Thank you for the opportunity to provide some clarification concerning a recent story that appeared in both the Morrisburg Leader, and the Standard-Freeholder, authored by reporter Phillip Blancher. The story concerns potential Province of Ontario funding for the North Dundas municipal water system.
The story suggests the Township of North Dundas has not filed applications seeking funding to expand its water-supply system. There are several instances of inaccurate, misleading and context-lacking statements in the story, which we wish to clarify for the benefit of our residents.
- A comprehensive list of our water infrastructure funding applications, submitted through various programs at different times, has been shared with the media during communications.
- The story cites specific comments attributed to members of council and administration during an Oct. 22 council meeting. The story connects these comments to the issue of creating a pipeline that will feed North Dundas with water from the St. Lawrence River. In fact, the comments made on Oct. 22 were in reference to previous and current funding applications we have made to support the expansion and improvement of our existing water supply, which represent our immediate and medium-term needs and solutions – not the St. Lawrence River.
- The long-term solution — bringing water infrastructure from the St. Lawrence River — is a separate, ongoing, and complex initiative that North Dundas continues to explore. This project involves significant planning and coordination. To this end the Township of North Dundas has:
- Engaged in discussions with Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Rob Flack during his visit to North Dundas in the spring, where long-term water solutions were discussed.
- Led a delegation at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), where North Dundas officials met with the Ministry of Infrastructure to present funding options related to extending water services from the St. Lawrence River
- Continued active engagement with local MPP Nolan Quinn.
- Entered into an agreement with South Dundas to explore a joint water servicing project.
The story, as presented without comments from our Township, suggests that our Council’s discussions were specific to the St. Lawrence River plan – this is not accurate and has created confusion in the community.
North Dundas has requested that the points above be published in a follow-up to the initial report.