Funding aids water treatment facility, Mi'kmaq Confederacy

SUMMERSIDE - P.E.I.'s federal cabinet minister doled out more money yesterday in Summerside, this time in support of more jobs for the Island's aboriginal community and cleaner water for the city.
Conservative MP Gail Shea inaugurated the Summerside Water Pollution Control Centre, just off MacKenzie Drive.
The plant's cutting edge sludge treatment technology allows for much safer water for city residents, said the city's municipal engineer, Phil Hardy, following the announcement.
"With the old system, we used to get 50 to 60 per cent removal of solids in the water and with this new system it's close to 95 per cent removal," said Hardy. "This system reduces nitrogen and phosphorous in the water and cuts down on potential algae growth. Through the sludge treatment, the leftover product can be land applied on farms. Before it was just hauled to a landfill."
The sludge treatment program received $4.5 million in funding through the Gas Tax Fund, while the city contributed more than $1.7 million. The federal and provincial governments each contributed $3.8 million.
"The investment will have a huge impact on the health and safety standards for the wastewater treatment facility here in Summerside," said Shea.
Also receiving funding Wednesday was the Mi'Kmaq Confederacy of P.E.I.
The federal government is contributing $258,267 to address skills development and employment needs of 10 aboriginal people.
Tabitha Bernard, ambassador for the Confederacy, said the resources would go toward individuals who have struggled to make the transition into jobs or career training.
"Developing necessary skills and building capacity within the P.E.I. aboriginal population remains a top priority of the Mi'Kmaq leadership," she said.