By David Opinko

Province announces $118M to modernize irrigation in Southern Alberta farmland

Nov 15, 2021 | 10:24 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Farmers across the province will have greater access to funding for irrigation projects.

In partnership with the Canada Infrastructure Bank, the Alberta Government is investing $117.7 million to modernize irrigation infrastructure and increase water storage in Southern Alberta

Premier Jason Kenney says this will create 7,300 permanent positions and more than 1,400 construction jobs.

“Irrigation is a transformative part of Alberta’s history, and we’re proudly building on that legacy by investing even more in the province’s farmers and food processors. This historic investment will create good jobs and grow even more agricultural possibilities.”

The irrigation districts participating in this investment are:

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• Bow River Irrigation District
• Eastern Irrigation District
• Leavitt Irrigation District
• Lethbridge Northern Irrigation District
• Raymond Irrigation District
• Ross Creek Irrigation District
• St. Mary River Irrigation District
• Taber Irrigation District
• United Irrigation District
• Western Irrigation District

“We would like to thank the Government of Alberta and the CIB for the additional investment into the Irrigating Alberta infrastructure initiative,” says David Westwood, Manager of the St. Mary River Irrigation District. “This is truly a transformational investment for the Alberta irrigation sector and agriculture industry.”

The funding announced Friday is in addition to last fall’s historic $815-million investment.

READ MORE: Several Southern Alberta irrigation districts to be upgraded with $815-million investment

With these grants, the province aims to grow primary and value-added agricultural exports to a projected $16-billion by 2023, a 37 per cent growth compared to 2019.

Once the various projects are completed, there will be an additional 230,000 irrigated acres in Alberta, over 15 per cent more than now.