Sault Ste. Marie loses bids to host new federal water agency offices
The 2023 federal budget contained some unfortunate news for Sault Ste. Marie – the city was believed to be among the finalists for the Canada Water Agency headquarters – was not chosen as the site for the new agency.
Since 2021 the city had been eyeing the opportunity to host the agency, which was now awarded to Winnipeg in the budget.
Sault Mayor Matthew Shoemaker called the news “disappointing,” adding he was confident in the city’s bid and still believes that being at the crossroads of three great lakes would have been the ideal location for the Canada Water Agency.
“We had the best reason for hosting the Canada Water Agency,” said Shoemaker.
“From our strategic location, to the partnerships that we had committed to creating and to the endorsements of our bid package from our neighbouring Indigenous communities, from across in Sault Michigan. All these key players in wanting us to host Canada Water Agency.”
Shoemaker had said the city was still interested in becoming a regional hub to support the work done in Winnipeg. There was no official timeline on when the announcement would be made when the mayor spoke with CTV News on Wednesday.
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
A statement released by the federal government Friday furthered the disappointment for Sault Ste. Marie as they were not selected to host a regional office either.
According to the statement, regional offices will be placed in Vancouver, Toronto, Quebec City and Halifax. The statement went on to say that Winnipeg was chosen as the new agency’s headquarters because it will provide “regional responsiveness” by being located outside the nation’s capital.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.