Canada-Quebec investment of $8,564,486 in Longue-Rive for water distribution and wastewater treatment work

Building Canada Fund – Quebec, Communities Component

Longue-Rive, Quebec, March 1, 2010 – The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, today joined Serge Simard, Quebec Minister for Natural Resources and Wildlife, Minister responsible for the Côte-Nord region and Member of the National Assembly for Dubuc, acting on behalf of Laurent Lessard, Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy, in announcing that the Municipality of Longue-Rive will receive $8,564,486 in joint government financial assistance under the Communities Component of the Building Canada Fund – Quebec (FCCQ) for water distribution and wastewater treatment works.

The municipality’s project calls for the replacement of water mains under certain sections of Highway 138, the installation of a domestic sewer system and the construction of an aerated pond wastewater treatment plant in the Sault-au-Mouton and Saint-Paul-du-Nord districts. Completion of this project, which will benefit some 1,000 people, will help reduce the quantity and improve the quality of the wastewater discharged into the environment.

“This water distribution and wastewater treatment project in Longue-Rive will be beneficial to the municipality’s residents and businesses alike and ensure the population the high level of quality of life that has become our country’s trademark. Indeed, the Government of Canada has made it its commitment to equip every community with the kind of modern facilities that are essential to ensuring citizens’ health and safety. The renewal of public infrastructure is part of a vast action plan that will enable our country to thrive and prosper in a healthy environment,” noted Minister of State Lebel.

“In supporting this project, the Government of Quebec is moving forward to ensure the province’s municipalities have infrastructure that suits their unique realities while fostering sustainable development. By injecting new capital into the Quebec Infrastructure Plan, our government is looking to accelerate the execution of numerous infrastructure projects throughout the province, like this one in Longue-Rive, to improve Quebecers’ well-being, create jobs and sustain a high-performance economy. In this way, we are leaving the municipality a legacy of quality infrastructure, an indispensable tool with which to face the challenges of the future and a source of pride and prosperity for the generations to come,” added Minister Simard.

Completion of this project will necessitate an overall eligible investment of $10,078,164. The governments of Quebec and Canada will each contribute $4,282,243 toward the work, for a total of $8,564,486 in combined government funding, while the Municipality of Longue-Rive will itself invest $1,513,678 in the project.

The Communities Component of the Building Canada Fund – Quebec is a cost-sharing initiative aimed at funding infrastructure projects in communities with fewer than 100,000 inhabitants. These communities are thus able to use this assistance to improve infrastructure that is in major need of revitalization, including water treatment plants, water supply systems and cultural and sports centres.

An unprecedented funding commitment on the part of the Government of Canada, the Building Canada Fund – Quebec provides stable and predictable funding to support infrastructure projects. In Quebec, nearly $4 billion will be allocated to that end.

The contribution from the Government of Canada has been awarded through Canada’s Economic Action Plan. To learn more about this plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.

For further information on the Government of Quebec’s Quebec Infrastructure Plan, see www.infrastructures.gouv.qc.ca.

To find out more about the Building Canada Fund – Quebec or the process for submitting a funding application, visit www.buildingcanada-chantierscanada.gc.ca and www.mamrot.gouv.qc.ca.

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Sources:

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

Jack Roy
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister for Natural resources and Wildlife
Tel.: 418-643-7295