Provincial funding for the third and final phase of the North End Water Treatment Plant has been secured. Premier Wab Kinew confirmed to CTV News Thursday the Manitoba government will put up a portion of money for phase three. “We’re good for $500 million towards the North End Water Treatment Plant,” Kinew said Thursday afternoon. “This is a big project for more housing. We got to keep the economy moving here.” The first phase of the plant upgrade was completed earlier this year, and the second phase was expected to get underway in the back half of 2026. The entire project is expected to cost over $3 billion, with the third phase costing around $1.57 billion. The third phase is focused on building a new facility that would help remove nutrients from treated water, making it cleaner when it enters the river. Construction is scheduled for 2028. In a statement to CTV News, Mayor Scott Gillingham said he appreciates the premier’s support. “This project is critical to Winnipeg’s future growth and I look forward to discussing next steps soon,” Gillingham said. With funding now committed from the province, the city still needs money from the federal government to get the project off the ground. “We’ve been doing the negotiations with the feds to get them there for their share. We just want to make sure that the city delivers this thing on budget now,” said Kinew. When the entire treatment is completed, it’s believed the city’s economy could grow by 16.4 per cent. The plant would also be able to handle a population of more than one million people.
