Grant sought for drainage project

Posted on June 29, 2026 by Ryan Dahlman

Maple Creek News

The Town of Maple Creek has been pre-approved for 70 per cent of a $1m grant to carry out southeast drainage improvements, covering the Murraydale subdivision.

It is hoped that the amount the municipality receives could increase to 80 per cent.

A grant application for potential Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) funding for all phases of the project has already been submitted.

In a report to Maple Creek Town Council, Barry Elliott, chief administrative officer, said he took part in two virtual meetings with FCM and the Town’s consulting firm Associated Engineering.

At these meetings, the application was completed and filed.

At the June 11 regular meeting, Council agreed to support the application to the FCM’s Local Leadership for Climate Adaptation (LLCA) initiative, which invests in communities through the Green Municipal Fund.Funding, if approved, would go to the Town of Maple Creek’s Southeast Drainage Improvements project to mitigate flood and climate change impacts.

Council also committed to contribute $405,000 to undertake the capital project and approved the climate change risk assessment document prepared by Associated Engineering for the purpose of the FCM grant.

Michelle McKenzie, the mayor, explained the $405,000 figure: $300,000 would be the balance if the Town gets 70 per cent of the $1m grant. The additional $105,000 – to reach $405,000 – is for “pre-design and pre-work” and Goods and Services Tax (GST) not covered by the grant.

The Town is ineligible to claim for these things, McKenzie said. The GST alone comes to $40,000, she said, although the Town will be able to get that back.

”So, all that comes to $105,000.”

McKenzie said the Town hoped its portion of the grant could increase to 80 per cent because of the “soft engineering” aspect to the project. There were no plans to install “hard fixtures”. Instead, things like a berm were planned.

Another way to reach 80 per cent would be through a partnership.

“If we had another municipality on board, that would give us another 10 per cent,” said McKenzie.

She went on to remind Council that the Town would still be getting funds over 10 years through the Canada’s infrastructure fund.

This would help for future projects.

Councillor Tina Cresswell backed the drainage improvements project.

”I completely agree with this project because it frees up land, but I like that it also frees up a potential future subdivision. It handles all of that water in that area. I believe it changes the classification of that area if we handle that water, and I don’t think we can not do it.”

McKenzie urged Council not to “gasp” at the costs of flood mitigation, since the Town would receive money from the former federal Gas Tax Fund, now officially known as the Canada Community-Building Fund (CCBF).

Councillor Mike Stork sought confirmation that the bottom line for the Town was $400,000 over two phases of the project.

”So, this is not a single-year expenditure here. So, we’re looking at two years. What did we budget for this year as our portion for that going forward?”

He was told the figure was believed to be $180,000.

”So, it is almost half of that anyways,” he replied.

Councillor Len Barkman asked whether the Town will be getting the grant.

”Or is it something that is still dependent on something yet?”

McKenzie said discussions had been held with FCM and Associated Engineering.

“I know when I talked to the lady from the green initiative at FCM, she knew who I was. She knew our application was in there. So, you know, I think there’s lots of good things coming through there. I think we have got a pretty good chance of getting the 70 per cent of this grant. Or up to 80.”

At this stage, Rebekah Mathieu, the Town’s financial officer, said: “We have actually been pre-approved already.”

Councillor Stork responded: “So, we are being pre-approved for 70 per cent. And then we are going to work on trying to get the 80 per cent.”

Councillor Barkman asked whether there had been any discussion with the RM, since partnerships could reduce costs.

McKenzie said there had not, but looking ahead, the Town should be thinking of partnerships. In this case, she said, the RM would benefit from the project.