$569,344 invested in Sainte-Justine for drinking water treatment

Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF)

Sainte-Justine, December 18, 2006 – Acting on behalf of Nathalie Normandeau, Quebec's Ministre des Affaires municipales et des Régions, Dominique Vien, Member of the National Assembly for Bellechasse and Parliamentary Assistant to the Ministre de la Culture et des Communications, today joined Steven Blaney, Member of Parliament for Lévis-Bellechasse, acting on behalf of the Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of Labour and Minister of Canada Economic Development, in announcing that the Municipality of Sainte-Justine will receive $284,672 in combined government funding under the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF) for water system improvements.

This funding will mainly serve for the installation of a water treatment system and a continuous disinfection system to enable the municipality to improve the quality of its drinking water. The project also calls for the implementation of measurement and monitoring equipment, the protection of existing wells and the execution of various complementary work. These upgrades will benefit some 1,450 local residents.

Completion of this project will necessitate a total eligible investment of $569,344 under component 1 of the MRIF. As such, the Government of Quebec and Government of Canada will each contribute $142,336 toward these upgrades, for a total of $284,672 in combined government funding, while the Municipality of Sainte-Justine will assume $284,672 of the project's costs.

Sainte-Justine Mayor Marcel Morissette said he is delighted that this project, considered a priority for the development of the municipality and well-being of the population, 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

Nadja Raphaël
Communications
Canada Economic Development  
514-283-2634