Mayor Bentley, MP Leslyn Lewis and Minister of Infrastructure Kinga Surma participate in a tour facilitated by Phil Wilson, Haldimand County Manager of Water & Wastewater Engineering.
Tuesday, Ontario Minister of Infrastructure Kinga Surma visited the Haldimand County Administration Building for a presentation and then toured the Nanticoke Water Treatment Plant. She was accompanied by Mayor Bentley, Norfolk County Mayor Amy Martin, members of the council, senior staff, and MP Leslyn Lewis, the Opposition Critic of Infrastructure & Communities. MPP Bobbi-Ann Brady attended the presentation but left for a prior commitment.
The $132 million, multi-year expansion project at the Nanticoke facility aims to meet Haldimand’s water treatment and supply needs through 2041. Representatives from the Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA) and county staff highlighted the project’s benefits, including providing safe drinking water to Six Nations, addressing Norfolk County’s water supply limitations, increasing water supply to Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, and offering economic development opportunities.
Mayor Bentley said “It’s important that we are persistent in elevating the issues that matter to our community to ensure we’re top of mind with the province when it comes to funding and supports. I appreciate the time Minister Surma took to visit our community today and look forward to future discussions and announcements that will positively impact the future of this project.”
Since 2018, Haldimand County Council has actively lobbied for provincial support and funding, yet financial backing from the province remains pending. Currently in the design and engineering phase, the project was approved in the 2024 Rate-Supported Operating Budget, with costs fully recoverable from Norfolk County.
Written by Jeremy Hall