Daajing Giids’ proposed wastewater treatment plant is now under federal review, with the Village seeking an estimated $16 million to help close the project’s remaining funding gap.
In an Aug. 28 letter, federal Housing and Infrastructure Minister Gregor Robertson confirmed that the Build Communities Strong Fund received the Village’s expression of interest for the project on July 15.
The federal government said the submission will be considered as part of the fund’s assessment process, with priority given to shovel-ready projects that can begin within the next 12 months.
The Village has estimated the treatment plant could cost as much as $39 million. The Province has already committed $20 million toward the project, while the Village is seeking about $16 million from the federal government. No federal construction funding has yet been approved.
Daajing Giids is one of the few communities in Canada still discharging untreated wastewater into the ocean. The Village currently sends sewage into Bearskin Bay after preliminary screening through a grinder station.
In 2025, Environment and Climate Change Canada issued a Fisheries Act order requiring the Village to bring its wastewater system into compliance by Dec. 31, 2030.
Council selected Smith Point East earlier this summer as the preferred location for the future treatment plant following engineering, environmental, operational and financial reviews.
The Village says the project faces unusually high costs because of Haida Gwaii’s remote location, difficult terrain and geotechnical conditions. Federal funding has supported planning and design work, but not construction.
The federal Build Communities Strong Fund includes a direct-delivery stream for major infrastructure projects, including water and wastewater systems, climate adaptation and community infrastructure. The fund is intended to support projects that can move quickly into construction.