Part of the $10 billion announced funding from the Canada Infrastructure Bank will finance irrigation projects in Western Canada with two Saskatchewan projects at the top of the list.
The $4 billion projects — 350,000 acres in the Conquest area and up to 150,000 acres north of Moose Jaw — have been viewed favourably by the federal government for over a year.
Now they require matching funds from the Saskatchewan provincial government. The province has announced $22.5 million in preparedness work on the projects.
Over the 10 years of development, the projects would spur $17 billion investment and return $36 billion in taxes to governments.
The developments with create $29 billion in personal income by creating 42,500 jobs on average.
The entire $10 billion infrastructure fund is supposed to create 60,000 jobs.
And the projects will solve water security issues for industry in southern Saskatchewan with an open canal moving water from the Qu’Appelle Dam to Buffalo Pound Lake.
Ron Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net
