$2,046,000 invested in Brownsburg-Chatham to bring its filtration plant and drinking water treatment equipment in Saint-Philippe sector up to standard

Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF)

Lachute, November 17, 2006  Acting on behalf of Nathalie Normandeau, Ministre des Affaires municipales et des Régions, David Whissell, Member of the National Assembly for Argenteuil and Député responsable de la région des Laurentides, today joined the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, acting on behalf of the Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of Labour and Minister of Canada Economic Development, in announcing that the City of Brownsburg-Chatham will receive $1,023,000 in combined government funding under the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF).

This assistance will enable Brownsburg-Chatham to carry out two infrastructure projects involving drinking water supply. The first consists of  bringing the water filtration plant up to standard by installing an ultraviolet disinfection system and replacing and upgrading the process automation control system. This work will include the addition of a continuous chlorine analyzer. The project will benefit the 2,500 residents currently served by the filtration plant.

The second project consists primarily of laying a water main along a 2.6 km span of Highway 148 to connect Lachute's drinking water network to the City of Brownsburg-Chatham's Saint-Philippe sector. Other modifications and upgrades will also be required on the existing chlorination system, building and reservoir. This work will benefit some 700 residents.

Completion of these two projects will necessitate a total investment of $2,046,000, eligible under Component 1 of the MRIF. The Government of Quebec and the Government of Canada will thus each contribute $511,500 toward the project, for a total of $1,023,000 in combined government funding, while the City of Brownsburg-Chatham will contribute a matching amount of $1,023,000.

Brownsburg-Chatham Mayor Lise Bourgault expressed her delight with the positive impact this work will have on improving community infrastructure and enhancing citizens' quality of life.

The Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund is a $390 million cost-sharing initiative of the Government of Quebec and the Government of Canada to help finance municipal infrastructure projects in Quebec. With the financial participation of municipalities, this initiative could result in investments of early $576 million for infrastructure work in the province. The objectives of the MRIF are to upgrade community infrastructure, improve the quality of the environment, promote long-term economic growth and enhance citizens' quality of life.

Implementation of the MRIF in Quebec is the result of a joint agreement signed by the Government of Quebec and the Government of Canada in July 2005. The program, which is in force until March 31, 2010, is administered by Quebec's Ministère des Affaires municipales et des Régions. Canada Economic Development is responsible for delivering the federal portion of the MRIF on behalf of the Government of Canada.

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Source:

Johanne Levesque
Communications Advisor
Communications Branch
Ministère des Affaires municipales et des Régions
514-873-6910

Information:

Jonathan Trudeau
Press Secretary
Office of the Ministre des Affaires municipales et des Régions
418-691-2050

Roxane Marchand
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn
Canada Economic Development
819-953-5646
613-816-5094

Louise Elliott-Edery
Communications Advisor
Canada Economic Development
514-283-8818