$1,400,000 invested to bring Saint-Zotique filtration plant up to standard

Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF)

Saint-Zotique, November 13, 2006 – Acting on behalf of Nathalie Normandeau, Quebec's Ministre des Affaires municipales et des Régions, Lucie Charlebois, Member of the National Assembly for Soulanges and Assistant Government Whip, today joined the Honourable Michael Fortier, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister responsible for the Montreal Region, acting on behalf of the Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of Labour and Minister of Canada Economic Development, in announcing that the Village of  Saint-Zotique will receive $700,000 in combined government funding under the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF) to bring its filtration plant into compliance with the province's Règlement sur la qualité de l'eau potable (RQEP).

The project mainly involves installing two new Dynasand filters, an active carbon metering system and an ultraviolet disinfection system, as well as expanding the existing facility in order to house all of the new equipment. These improvements will benefit more than 5,300 residents.

Completion of this work will require a total investment of $1,400,000, eligible under Component 1 of the MRIF. As such, the Government of Quebec and Government of Canada will each contribute $350,000 toward the upgrades, for a total of $700,000 in combined government assistance, while the Village de Saint-Zotique will assume $700,000 of the project's costs.

Saint-Zotique Mayor Gaëtane Legault expressed her delight that this project, considered a priority for the municipality and for 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: 

Christine Poirier Laberge
Communications Advisor
Communications Branch
Ministère des Affaires municipales et des Régions
514-873-3687

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