Monday’s announcement was the latest in a series of similar announcements made across the province and there are more to come, but it just so happens that Ball’s brother is seeking re-election as Deer Lake’s mayor in next Tuesday’s vote.
Ball and Municipal Affairs and Environment Minister Eddie Joyce announced $1.7 million in provincial money for several towns in the premier’s home district of Humber-Gros Morne, including $586,000 to go toward a cost-shared project to rehabilitate the Fourth Avenue area of Deer Lake.
The total cost of that project is more than $1.2 million, with the federal government contributing $418,000 and the town chipping in $251,000.
Money was also announced for cost-shared projects in Daniel’s Harbour, Woody Point, Jackson’s Arm and Cow Head.
Ball said Monday’s announcement was no different than the ones made in various other communities since the general announcement of $38.8 million in federal-provincial funding for municipal infrastructure was made in Botwood on Sept. 1.
The announcements since then have provided further details of the spending and have nothing to do with municipal elections, he said.
“We went out of our way to make sure this did not seem as me getting involved in municipal politics,” Ball said after the announcement. “That is not the case. This is really letting residents know about the investments that we’re making and (that we are) working with their communities, regardless of who they choose to represent them.”
Several members of the current Deer Lake council seeking re-election were present for the announcement, as were some candidates hoping to be newly elected to council.
Joyce said there are more of these announcements to come soon, but he doesn’t have any he is scheduled to attend in the next week.
He said the timing of the announcements is all about co-ordinating with municipal and federal officials, and not about the election.
“There is no intent to rush any of these announcements,” he said when asked how many might be made before Sept. 26.
How the money is being spent
Some of the money announced by Premier Dwight Ball is being made available through the Small Communities Fund of the New Building Canada Fund and is cost-shared with both the federal and municipal levels of government.
Those projects include:
• Deer Lake is receiving a provincial contribution of $586,000 and a federal contribution of up to $418,000 to go with a municipal share of $251,000 for the rehabilitation of Fourth Avenue. This will include upgrades to the water and wastewater systems, as well as upgrades to alleviate flooding in the area.
• Daniel’s Harbour is receiving provincial funding of $184,000 and federal funding up to $108,000 to go with with a municipal share of about $33,000 to be used for a pump house extension.
• Woody Point has been allocated $139,000 in provincial funding and up to $82,000 in federal funding to go with a municipal share of about $25,000 for upgrades to its lift station.
Ball also announced a contribution of $787,000 under the new provincial Municipal Capital Works program, to support the following cost-shared municipal infrastructure projects:
• Jackson’s Arm will receive a provincial allocation of $384,000 for wastewater upgrades, to go with its municipal share of $43,000. The community will also receive $98,000 for water and sewer system studies to go with a municipal share of $11,000.
• Cow Head will undertake upgrades to its wastewater system through a provincial contribution of $305,000 and a municipal expenditure of $34,000.
