Backgrounder - Support for Yukon First Nation Infrastructure Project

The Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor), the Yukon Department of Community Services and Little Salmon/Carmacks First Nation are investing $662,817 each in support of the construction of a water delivery fill station.

This project will upgrade the Little Salmon/Carmacks First Nation water delivery fill station in Carmacks, Yukon, including the construction of a bulk water delivery facility to replace the current structure. The new fill station will have three bays: one bay will treat and store water and will include an office and a mechanical room; the other two bays will store water trucks and water system maintenance parts. The new facility will meet all territorial regulations.

Other upgrades to the fill station include the installation of two above-ground 10,000 litre tanks and a fill arm which will increase the capability of servicing water delivery trucks. The enhanced facility will be better able to respond to households and businesses demands through a substantial increase in the volume of potable water produced in the community. The upgrades will also allow for additional households to take advantage of a more reliable water source. The larger water tanks and the fill arm will be able to fill water trucks more quickly and provide improved response times in the event of a fire in the First Nation community and in the Village of Carmacks.

The project, considered “green”, is expected to reduce operating costs, potentially saving Little Salmon/Carmacks First Nation over $60,000 a year through energy efficient design and upgrades to the old water and sewer truck shed. An additional benefit of the new facility is the location, which has been chosen to reduce the chance of water contamination.

Federal funding for this project comes from the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF), which is designed to enhance urban and rural municipal infrastructure across Canada. This $1.2 billion program focuses on green infrastructure, which includes investments in areas such as water, energy efficiency improvements, public transit, and cultural infrastructure. Projects are cost shared with territories and local communities, where applicable. To date Yukon has received approximately $19 million in MRIF funding.