The Lake Diefenbaker Irrigation Project will be moving forward, with construction set for the first 90,000 acres.
The total cost of the project is estimated to be $1.15 billion, which will be shared between the province and producers who want to take part in the project, according to a release from the provincial government.
Originally there was discussion about the federal government assisting in funding the project. However, this plan did not come to fruition.
“We thought that the federal government was going to be there, and we questioned as recently as last fall to the federal minister agriculture and deputy minister agriculture why they wouldn’t want to contribute to share as they would, to any other infrastructure project across the country,” said Ray Orb, SARM’s president.
Over the next 12 to 14 months, engineering design and engagement with Indigenous rights holders and stakeholders will take place. The construction of the 90,000 acres is targeted …