Funding to Bryson increased to $3,570,000 for wasterwater treatment

Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund

Bryson, Quebec, November 12, 2009 – Acting on behalf of Laurent Lessard, Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy, Charlotte l’Écuyer, Member of the National Assembly for Pontiac and Vice-chair of the Committee on Transportation and the Environment, today joined the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Member of Parliament for Pontiac, acting on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, in announcing that the Municipality of Bryson has been awarded an additional $1,445,000 in government funding, up from $2,125,000 to $3,570,000, under the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF) to upgrade its wastewater treatment facilities.

This increase is due to revisions to the work needed to improve sewage collection and treatment in Bryson.

The project mainly involves the laying of sewer mains under several streets and building of a pump station and aerated pond treatment plant and will also include the installation of force mains, some 20 utility hook-ups and an outfall pipe to the Ottawa River, as well as various related works. These improvements will directly benefit some 720 local residents.

Completion of this project will necessitate an increase in government assistance, bringing the overall eligible investment to $4,200,000 under component 1 of the MRIF. The governments of Quebec and Canada will now each contribute $1,785,000 toward these improvements, for a total of $3,570,000, while the Municipality of Bryson will itself invest $630,000 in the project.

Bryson Mayor Albert Davis said he was delighted with this additional government funding which will bring the project to completion, while improving community infrastructure for the benefit of the local population.

The Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund is a cost-sharing initiative of the Government of Quebec and Government of Canada that makes $470 million in funding available to Quebec municipalities and non-governmental organizations. With the financial participation of these municipalities and organizations, this initiative could result in the execution of more than $700 million in infrastructure work. The objectives of the MRIF are to improve community infrastructure, the quality of the environment and citizens’ quality of life, and to promote long-term economic growth.

The program, which is in force until March 31, 2010, is administered by the Quebec Department of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy. Canada Economic Development is responsible for delivering the federal portion of the MRIF on behalf of the Government of Canada.

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Sources:

Johanne Levesque
Communications Advisor
Communications Branch
Department of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy
Tel.: 514-873-6910

François Bélisle
Communications Advisor
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 819-825-5260, ext. 235

Information:

Sylvain Bourassa
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy
Tel.: 418-691-2050

Simon Bachand
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 613-996-6236