Nicole Hancock
Indigenous community hosts full moon ceremony ...

Kristen Villebrun and Wendy Bush hoped they wouldn't have to pray for Chedoke Creek, but four years after they first raised alarm about the water's condition, they were part of an Indigenous full moon ceremony to do just that. About 50 people showed up near Princess Point on the dark and frigid Monday evening for the monthly ceremony, which was particularly special as it focused on Chedoke Creek. The body of water that runs into Cootes Paradise had about 24 billion litres of sewage and storm water runoff leak into it due to a gate being left open.

Indigenous community hosts full moon ceremony to heal Chedoke Creek

sewer rates

Yellowknife looks at increasing some water and sewer rates

Yellowknife looks at increasing some water and sewer rates

In a news release on Monday, the city said “at least 20 years” had passed since the rate structure was last fully reviewed. According to the city, a report found that trucked water and sewer fees only cover 75 percent of the cost to the city. City Hall says the best practice would be to charge 90 to 110 percent of the cost. The 190-page report, conducted by utility rate design consultants InterGroup and billed as only an interim version, recommends phasing in new rates over three years, beginning in January 2024.

Water rate hike too high: Brockville council

Water rate hike too high: Brockville council

A proposed water rate increase of 14 per cent is too high, city councillors said Tuesday, asking staff to find efficiencies in the water and sewer budgets. After a lengthy presentation on the water and wastewater budgets, council unanimously approved a motion to refer the vote on those budgets to the Jan. 10 meeting, hoping staff can find a way to reduce the rate increase by five per cent. Coun. Jeff Earle, who introduced the referral motion, said he is not asking for cuts, but efficiencies. He does not know what savings can be achieved, but he challenged staffers to try.

Kamloops water and sewer rates set to rise over the next five years

Kamloops water and sewer rates set to rise over the next five years

Water and sewer services in Kamloops will cost you a little bit more over the next five years. The City of Kamloops will be increasing water rates by one per cent in 2023 with sewer rates going up 2.5 per cent, translating into a combined increase of $16 on average for a Kamloops homeowner. Utility Services Manager Greg Wightman says Kamloops has Canada’s most complex water distribution system owing to the topography and the way the city has grown through sprawl.

Water, sewer rate hike recommended to help pay for $1.8B Winnipeg treatment plant upgrades

Water, sewer rate hike recommended to help pay for $1.8B Winnipeg treatment plant upgrades

The City of Winnipeg's public service is recommending a combined 11.6 per cent increase to water and sewer rates over the next four years. A report to the city's water and waste committee says the main driver behind the recommended increase is providing funding for improvements to the city's North End sewage treatment facility and other sewage infrastructure projects. The city faces approximately $1.8 billion in costs to upgrade the treatment plant.

Fredericton council considers water rate hike for 2020

Fredericton council considers water rate hike for 2020

Fredericton city council is once again considering a water rate hike for the new year, which will add an estimated $1.75 to the average monthly residential water bill. City staff presented the water and sewer budget to council on Monday night as part of the city's annual budget process. Staff recommended the increase so the city could keep up with infrastructure upgrades. 

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