ManitobaWinnipeg ratepayers might not face as steep an increase in water bills as once feared after provincial and federal governments confirmed they will put more money toward the city’s multi-billion dollar sewage treatment plant expansion.Extra money brings cost share back to roughly one-third eachCameron MacLean · CBC News · Posted: Oct 14, 2025 6:26 PM EDT | Last Updated: 2 hours agoThe federal and provincial governments have told City of Winnipeg officials they will give more money from the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund toward the North End sewage treatment plant upgrade. (Cameron MacLean/CBC)Winnipeg ratepayers might not face as steep an increase in water bills as once feared after provincial and federal governments confirmed they will put more money toward the city’s multi-billion dollar sewage treatment plant expansion.Officials from the water and waste and finance departments told council’s finance committee Tuesday that new commitments through the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund bring funding for the biosolids facility — the second phase of the North End Sewage Treatment Plant upgrade — back to roughly one-third shares among all three levels of government.According to city officials, the province has committed up to $138 million and the federal government up to $166 million, easing pressure on the city’s debt load. Winnipeg will still be responsible for about 32 per cent of the more than $1-billion biosolids project, but officials say the extra support should mean more stable rate increases in the years ahead.Finance chair Jeff Browaty welcomed the news.“Winnipeg’s a growing city, we’re in the 850,000 people range. If we don’t do this work, we’re going to run out of capacity. We’ll have to say no more homes, no more industry, no more business, so it’s a very serious matter,” Browaty said after the meeting.A formal agreement on the funding has not been signed. The commitment came in emails sent by federal and provincial officials to the city, Chief Financial Officer Tracy Graham told the committee.According to the city, the deal would see the federal government pay $367 million (36 per cent), the province would pay $336 million (32 per cent), and the city would pay $332 million (32 per cent).The North End plant treats about 70 per cent of the city’s sewage. Work is nearing completion on the first phase, the headworks and power supply. A third phase to remove nutrients from effluent is still awaiting funding commitments.Mayor Scott Gillingham has said finishing the project is his top priority.Coun. Brian Mayes (St. Vital ) credited Gillingham for securing the new contributions, and said the development opens fiscal breathing room as council heads into budget season. “This opens up some space under the debt ceiling,” Mayes said. “[Councillors] all have competing interests. But at least now some of that can be debated meaningfully. We can afford to do some things it didn’t look like we could a week ago.”Mayes also said reduced provincial and federal pressure on city coffers should translate to less of a burden on water and sewer ratepayers, though rates will still rise.Municipal Relations Minister Glen Simard stopped short of confirming the dollar figures but emphasized the province’s commitment.“We’re committed to the City of Winnipeg … and we’ve been at the forefront of making sure this project, the largest infrastructure project in Winnipeg history, gets built,” Simard told CBC News.He said discussions with Ottawa are continuing to finalize details.A new water and sewer rate report, expected in November, will outline the impacts of the updated funding arrangement on household bills.WATCH | More funds coming for North End sewage plant:North End sewage plant to receive more funding from province and feds: cityRatepayers in Winnipeg won’t have to shoulder as much of the cost of the city’s sewage treatment plant upgrade, as municipal officials have received word that more funding from other levels of government is coming for the megaproject.ABOUT THE AUTHORCameron MacLean is a journalist for CBC Manitoba living in Winnipeg, where he was born and raised. He has more than a decade of experience reporting in the city and across Manitoba, covering a wide range of topics, including courts, politics, housing, arts, health and breaking news. Email story tips to cameron.maclean@cbc.ca.
City officials say province, feds commit more funds for North End sewage plant
