Haldimand–Norfolk MP Leslyn Lewis is calling out Ottawa for stalling the $450-million Inter Urban Water Plan, a joint project between Norfolk and Haldimand counties. The plan would deliver clean water from Haldimand’s Nanticoke plant to Simcoe, Port Dover, Port Rowan, Delhi, and Waterford, and extend access to Six Nations.
Lewis says the project is vital to replace aging systems and support growth, but federal funding has been blocked by red tape and political priorities favouring urban centres. She says Ottawa’s response to her funding request was a generic letter that ignored the urgency.
The MP criticized the current infrastructure system, saying rural communities face costly consultants, excessive paperwork, and vague climate and social targets, while billions are spent on “vanity projects” and foreign-built ferries.
Lewis is urging urgent reforms to ensure rural Canada receives fair, timely infrastructure funding, saying “communities like ours should not have to beg for clean water.”
Written by Jeremy Hall