Provincial government invests over $2.7 million in Chestermere-Strathmore MSI infrastructure

By John Watson Local Journalism initiative Reporter

Alberta’s government is investing over $2.7 million to support improving municipal infrastructure within the Chestermere-Strathmore constituency. 

According to a media release sent out from the legislature on Jan. 19, the money will go towards completing various municipal projects through the municipal sustainability initiative (MSI) to help build and revitalize local infrastructure.

Chestermere-Strathmore MLA Leela Aheer said the MSI funding replaced the previous transportation grants in 2007, to help fund pre-existing infrastructure as well as to renew or rebuild systems.

“The Town of Strathmore, City of Chestermere, Langdon (and) Wheatland County, they’re all going to have their priorities, but other things that are like rec facilities, water and wastewater and roads or other infrastructure like bridges are a huge part of the MSI funding,” said Aheer.

Aheer explained the MSI funding was only originally intended to only be used for a few years, but that funding has now been extended into 2023-24, after which time it will be replaced by a different framework.

“We’ve been really lucky in our constituency, we’ve benefited from about $2.7 million of improvement money throughout our riding over the last few years”

The release detailed $2,051,495 will be allocated to the purchasing of public works maintenance equipment, $381,000 for the construction of a gravel road within Wheatland County and $300,000 for the upgrading of the public works yard and building in the City of Chestermere.

Although the funds themselves are allocated to municipalities at the provincial level, it is up to the municipal governments to ultimately decide how best to use the MSI funding and to be accountable for its expenditure.

“The entire purpose of that is to see improvements in your districts and to be able to grow capacity … It’s really great because that funding is based on local priorities,” said Aheer.

“These are important infrastructure projects that will be very impactful on the day to day lives of my constituents. I am proud of our government for allocating over $2.7 million of funding to our communities and am looking forward seeing these projects be completed.”

More information about local MSI projects is available through the Government of Alberta website.