The Lake Diefenbaker Irrigation Project is valued at $4-billion and would provide water to over 500,000 acres of farm and grain land.

The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) stated in a Wednesday news release that the economic importance of this project is significant for rural residents.

“The (provincial) government has already allocated $45.5 million for preliminary engineering and environmental work on the first phase of the project and has said construction could start in 2023,” said Ray Orb, president of SARM.  “At this time, most of the work beyond rehabilitating existing canals is in the conceptual phase, and there are many unanswered questions.”

SARM is looking for an update on Phase 1, which was deemed one of the most shovel-ready projects in the province. Orb said with 90 per cent of the current canal already in place, he would like to see the first project begin sooner rather than later.