$10 million invested to bring Magog’s drinking water production plant up to standard

Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF)

Magog, November 13, 2006 – Acting on behalf of Nathalie Normandeau, Quebec's Ministre des Affaires municipales et des Régions, Pierre Reid, Member of the National Assembly for Orford, and Christian Paradis, Member of Parliament for Mégantic-L'Érable and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources, acting on behalf of the Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of Labour and Minister of Canada Economic Development, are pleased to announce that the City of Magog will receive $5 million in combined government assistance under the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF) to bring its drinking water production plant up to standard. 

The project involves installing a continuous filtration and disinfection treatment line at the Des Pins reservoir. In addition to improving drinking water quality, these upgrades will make it possible to meet provincial drinking water quality standards. This major project will benefit some 16,000 people.

Completion of this work will necessitate a total eligible investment of $10 million. Under Component 1 of the MRIF, the Government of Quebec and the Government of Canada will each contribute $2.5 million toward the project for a total of $5 million in combined government funding, while the City of Magog will assume $5 million of the project's costs.

Magog Mayor Marc Poulin said he was delighted that this project, considered a priority for the development of his municipality and the well-being of 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

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