Building on last fall’s $815-million investment, the government of Alberta — leveraging from the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) — is investing another $117.7 million to modernize irrigation infrastructure and increase water storage in southern Alberta.
The funding has the potential to create 7,300 permanent jobs and 1,400 construction jobs, while contributing up to $477 million to the province’s GDP ever year.
The irrigation districts participating in the funding are:
- Bow River Irrigation District
- Eastern Irrigation District
- Leavitt Irrigation District
- Lethbridge Northern Irrigation District
- Raymond Irrigation District
- Ross Creek Irrigation District
- St. Mary River Irrigation District
- Taber Irrigation District
- United Irrigation District
- Western Irrigation District
Nate Horner, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Rural Economic Development, says the investment will only help grow Alberta’s agriculture sector.
“This is a momentous point in history for Alberta’s agriculture industry, with nearly a billion dollars invested in our farmers, processors and the communities they support. This investment will allow them to make even more high-quality, safe food to help feed the world.” Minister Horner says.
