Tunnel will prevent sewage overflow into Ottawa River

_ (press release) _ Infrastructure investments are vital to creating jobs, strengthening the middle class and building more inclusive and healthy communities where families can work, learn and play. The Combined Sewage Storage Tunnel (CSST) project will help protect the environment, prevent floods, and ensure that middle class Canadians and their families can enjoy recreational activities like swimming and kayaking on a cleaner and healthier Ottawa River.

Today, the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Member of Parliament for Ottawa Centre, on behalf of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, the Honourable Bob Chiarelli, Ontario Minister of Infrastructure and Member of Provincial Parliament for Ottawa West-Nepean, and his Worship Jim Watson, Mayor of Ottawa, announced that more than $232 million in government funding will go to the CSST project. The Honourable Andrew Leslie, Chief Government Whip and Member of Parliament for Orléans, also participated in the announcement.

The project will include the construction of two tunnels: an east-west tunnel through the downtown core from LeBreton Flats to New Edinburgh Park, and a north-south tunnel along Kent Street from Catherine Street to existing infrastructure, just behind the Supreme Court of Canada. This project will greatly reduce the frequency of sewage overflows into the Ottawa River during storms, reduce the risk of basement flooding for several low-lying lands in the Glebe/O’Connor area, and increase operational flexibility and redundancy to major collector sewers. Once rainfall has subsided, this water will be treated and returned safely to the Ottawa River.

Construction has already begun on the CSST project, the largest portion of the Ottawa River Action Plan, to help ensure that the Ottawa River is sustainable into the future. Today’s investment demonstrates a clear commitment to investing in local infrastructure projects that will ensure Canadians have access to a healthy local environment and reliable public services for years to come. The governments of Canada and Ontario are each providing $62.09 million. In addition, the City of Ottawa has committed $107 million.

Ontario is making the largest investment in public infrastructure in the province’s history - about $160 billion over 12 years, which is supporting 110,000 jobs every year across the province, with projects such as hospitals, schools, roads, bridges and transit. Since 2015, the province has announced support for more than 475 projects that will keep people and goods moving, connect communities and improve quality of life. To learn more about infrastructure projects in your community, go to Ontario.ca/BuildON .

Investing in priority infrastructure is part of our plan to create jobs, grow our economy and help people in their everyday lives.