Quebec invests $1B in water infrastructure over next decade
Province acknowledges funding gap remains despite federal contribution, prioritizing urgent projects.
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Quebec will invest $1 billion over 10 years to help municipalities repair and modernize water infrastructure, Finance Minister Eric Girard announced Tuesday.
The investment comes as part of the government's effort to address deteriorating public water systems across the province. Girard acknowledged the funding "will not solve all the problems" but called it a "significant step" for cities struggling with aging pipes and treatment systems.
The announcement also recognized a $10 billion federal grant but stressed it "does not meet all the needs." Girard said more funding will be required.
The government plans to strengthen its approach by obtaining more reliable data on infrastructure condition, setting targets for the asset maintenance deficit, and prioritizing the most urgent projects. Minister Samuel Poulin emphasized that prioritizing rehabilitation of existing infrastructure will require difficult choices while maintaining the goal of returning to a balanced budget by 2029-2030.
The announcement did not specify how funding would be allocated to individual municipalities.