$2 million invested in Lachute for its filtration plant

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 Lachute will receive $1,000,000 in combined government funding under the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF).

This assistance will go toward bringing the Lachute drinking waterfiltration plant up to standard and, by the same token, into compliance with the province's Règlement sur la qualité de l'eau potable (RQEP). The project will consist of various improvements, including the enlargement of the drinking water reservoir, the addition and upgrading of filters as well as modifications to the piping sytem. These new facilities will benefit some 9,500 residents.

Completion of this work will require a total investment of $2 million, eligible under Component 1 of the MRIF. The Government of Quebec and the Government of Canada will thus each contribute $500,000 toward the project, for a total of $1 million in combined government funding, while the City of Lachute will contribute a matching amount of $1 million.

Lachute Mayor Daniel Mayer expressed his delight that this project, considered a priority for the municipality and the well-being of local residents, will 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

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