$72,595 invested in Mirabel to bring a drinking water well up to standard

Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF)

Québec, November 24, 2006 – Acting on behalf of Nathalie Normandeau, Quebec's 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 Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of Labour and Minister of Canada Economic Development, in announcing that the City of Mirabel will receive $36,298 in combined government funding under the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF) to bring drinking water well no. 3, which serves a section of the city's Sainte-Antoine district, up to standard.

The project primarily involves installing a continuous chlorine disinfection system with chlorine residual analyzer and contact tank, as well as an alarm control and transmission system. These upgrades will benefit some 60 local residents.

Completion of this project will necessitate a total eligible investment of $72,595 under component 1 of the MRIF. As such, the Government of Quebec and the Government of Canada will each contribute $18,149 towards this work, for a total of $36,298 in combined government assistance, while the City of Mirabel will assume $36,297 of the project's costs.

Mirabel Mayor Hubert Meilleur said he is delighted that this project, which will enable the city to offer better quality drinking water and enhance the quality of life for local residents, will now be carried out.

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 nearly $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

Nadja Raphael
Communications Advisor
Canada Economic Development
514-283-2634