Secretary of State for Rural Development Buckley Belanger made the announcement in La Ronge on Thursday. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

annual funding

Feds announce $69.5 million for Sask. infrastructure projects

Oct 16, 2025 | 1:57 PM

Federal and provincial leaders were in Air Ronge on Thursday to announce an investment of $69.5 million through the Canada Community Building Fund (CCBF).

Those present for the announcement included Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Gregor Robertson, Secretary of State for Rural Development Buckley Belanger, and Eric Schmalz, the Minister of Government Relations and Minister responsible for First Nations, Métis and Northern Affairs.

“The CCBF helps municipalities undertake projects that will address the local infrastructure priorities that matter the most right now and into the future,” Belanger, who is a Liberal MP in Northern Saskatchewan, said.

“Investing in this kind of modern quality infrastructure like we are doing today is essential to fostering connected communities where people across the North and our whole province can thrive. In northern and rural Saskatchewan, that can mean fixing a stretch of road that keeps tearing up because of frost, repairing aging water lines … so families can trust what is coming out of our taps, or upgrading water systems so that new homes can be built.”

In 2025-26, the CCBF will provide $2.5 billion to 3,700 communities across Canada to support local infrastructure priorities. By 2034, $26.7 billion will be distributed in federal funding to core infrastructure investments.

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The fund will assist the federal government in its goal of doubling the rate of housing construction using more modern building techniques. That includes the manufacturing of parts year-round in factories to assemble faster during the outdoor construction season.

The funding will assist Saskatchewan municipalities with infrastructure priorities. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

The funding can also be used to build recreational infrastructure. In March of last year, funding supported upgrades to an outdoor skating rink in the Northern Hamlet of Jans Bay. The government said recreation projects like that promote the health and well-being of communities.

“Today sets the table for the next year of CCBF investments that benefit Saskatchewan municipalities,” Schmalz remarked.

“Saskatchewan residents want to live in strong, safe and secure communities, and this goal is made possible in ongoing investments in infrastructure projects such as housing developments, waterworks systems, roads, culverts, bridges … [and] core community facilities including recreational centres and event spaces.”

Since 2015, the federal government has invested $26.6 billion across Canada through CCBF, including more than $753 million in Saskatchewan communities.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com