Canada invests to help reduce flood risks and protect critical infrastructure in Selkirk

City of Selkirk —Today, Terry Duguid, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South, and His Worship Larry Johannson, Mayor of the City of Selkirk, announced a federal investment of $5,920,000 to build infrastructure that will help prevent flooding in Selkirk.

The new Storm Water Management Capacity Building Program consists of three projects that will protect homes, businesses, roads, and essential infrastructure in Selkirk. The construction of a west end storm retention pond in the new development planned west of Annie Street and south of Manitoba Avenue will serve to capture storm water to reduce the risk of overland flooding during heavy rainstorms and snowmelt runoff each spring.

An active transportation pathway will be developed around the pond to encourage physical activity and integrate the pond into the surrounding landscape. The project will also continue the city’s combined sewer separation program to divide storm from wastewater sewers to reduce basement flooding and sewage backup. In addition, improvements to the city’s storm water retention ponds in the Creekside and Woodlands Developments will include aeration systems and water elevation reduction on the ponds to discourage algae growth and help protect natural habitats and ecosystems.

By investing in infrastructure, the Government of Canada is growing our country’s economy, increasing the resiliency of our communities, and improving the lives of Canadians.