More than $700,000 invested in Montebello for water infrastructure upgrades

Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF)

Montebello, November 17, 2006 – Acting on behalf of Nathalie Normandeau, Quebec's Ministre des Affaires municipales et des Régions, Norman MacMillan, Member of the National Assembly for Papineau and Chief Government Whip, 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 Municipality of Montebello will receive $467,728 in combined government funding under the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF) for water infrastructure upgrades.

This funding will enable the municipality to replace the Saint-Dominique collecting sewer between Sainte-Élizabeth Street and Highway 148 with a new sewer main of approximately 800 metres in length. The project also calls for the laying of three sections of storm sewer  lines, measuring 520 metres in total, along Laval, Roupe and Saint-François-Xavier streets. These upgrades will benefit some 397 local residents.

Completion of this project will require a total eligible investment of $701,593 under component 1 of the MRIF. As such, the Government of Quebec and Government of Canada will each contribute  $233,864 toward this work, for a total of $467,728 in combined government assistance, while the Municipality of Montebello will assume $233,865 of the project's costs.

Montebello Mayor Jean-Paul Descoeurs expressed his delight that this project, considered a priority for the development of the municipality and well-being of 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: 

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