Members of Lake St. Martin First Nation continue return to rebuilt community with completion of 190 homes

WINNIPEG, Aug. 24, 2018 /CNW/ - Canada, Manitoba, and Lake St. Martin First Nation are working together to bring home residents displaced by severe flooding in 2011.

Today, the Honourable Jane Philpott, the federal Minister of Indigenous Services, the Honourable Eileen Clarke, Minister of Indigenous and Northern Relations, Province of Manitoba , and Lake St. Martin First Nation marked the completion of 190 homes in the newly rebuilt Lake St. Martin community. The housing project represents an investment of $49.5 million, which has been cost-shared equally between Canada and the Province of Manitoba.

The community, which has been rebuilt above the 2011 flood levels, has already completed construction on vital infrastructure including a public works garage, a fire hall, and water and sewage treatment facilities.

A new school for students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 is expected to open by September 2018, supported by a $19.7 million investment from the Government of Canada. Construction also continues on an additional 130 homes, which are scheduled to be completed by November 2019.

Lake St. Martin Chief and Council are working with the Canadian Red Cross to help residents who wish the return to the community come back home.

Quotes

"Members of Lake St. Martin First Nation have demonstrated remarkable strength and resiliency in their efforts to rebuild their community following the devastating flood of 2011. Our government continues to work with partners to complete the remaining work so that more families can return to the community and have a safe place to call home. I am pleased to see that these efforts are now reaching their final stages, with all work expected to be completed in just over a year from now."

The Honourable Jane Philpott, M.D., P.C., M.P.
Minister of Indigenous Services

"Working together with our federal and First Nations partners, our government is proud to announce the completion of 190 homes in Lake St. Martin First Nation. Thanks to a lot of hard work and collaboration over this past year, flood evacuees have begun to return to their home community. We will continue to work positively and respectfully with the First Nations to ensure the safe return home of flood-affected community members."

The Honourable Eileen Clarke,
Minister of Indigenous and Northern Relations, Province of Manitoba

"Our people have been through so much in the past seven years. It's comforting to know some of our members have returned home. However, we still have over 300 people wanting to return to our traditional lands. Much work, negotiations and planning must be done to see the next wave of members return home in the fall of 2019. We look forward to the continued work with our various partners to ensure completion of Operation Return Home."

Chief Adrian Sinclair
Lake St. Martin First Nation

Quick Facts

• As of July 25, 2018, 284 individuals, or a total of 155 households, have returned to the rebuilt Lake St. Martin community.
• In addition to the 190 homes now completed, work continues on another 130 homes scheduled to be completed by November 2019.
• All required infrastructure is complete: public works garage, fire hall, temporary administration office, and water and wastewater treatment and distribution facilities.
• The Government of Canada is providing $19.7 million for the construction of the new school.
• Canada and Manitoba have also invested in the development and servicing of the new community site, located on higher ground above the record flood levels experienced in 2011.

Associated Links

• Manitoba 2011 Flood Recovery

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SOURCE Indigenous Services Canada

For further information: Media may contact: Rachel Rappaport, Press Secretary, Office of the Honourable Jane Philpott, Minister of Indigenous Services, 819-934-2796; Media Relations, Indigenous Services Canada, 819-953-1160