Canada-Quebec investment of $1,859,442 in Malartic for the development of an industrial park

Building Canada Fund – Quebec, Communities Component

Malartic, Quebec, March 1, 2010 – The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, today joined Pierre Corbeil, Member of the National Assembly for Abitibi-Est, Minister responsible for Aboriginal Affairs and Minister responsible for the Abitibi-Témiscamingue and Nord-du-Québec Regions, acting on behalf of Laurent Lessard, Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy, in announcing that City of Malartic will receive $1,859,442 in joint government financial assistance under the Communities Component of the Building Canada Fund – Quebec for the development of an industrial park.

The project involves extending existing municipal water supply and sewers systems on Lac Mourier Road, building about 1,080 linear metres of road along the new industrial park road and adding a sanitary sewer pumping station. The planned industrial park comprises the development of several lots along Lac Mourier Road and on the new road that will run parallel to it. This proximity will help maximize economic spinoffs for the City of Malartic while reducing the release of transport pollutants. This project will directly benefit the population in its entirety.

“Development of an industrial park in Malartic will serve the interests of local residents and businesses. In supporting this project, we are ensuring that the population enjoys the high quality of life for which our country is famous. Indeed, the Government of Canada is committed to equipping every community with modern facilities and equipment to ensure citizens’ health and safety. The renewal of public infrastructure is part of a broad action plan that will enable us to thrive and prosper in a healthy environment,” said the Minister of State.

“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 Malartic, in an effort to improve Quebecers’ well-being, create jobs and promote a high-performance economy. The building of an industrial park with quality infrastructure will contribute to the City of Malartic economic revitalization with the prospect of sustainable development,” added Minister Corbeil.

Completion of this project will necessitate an overall eligible investment of $2,789,163. The governments of Quebec and Canada will each contribute $929,721 toward the work, for a total of $1,859,442 in combined government funding, while the City of Malartic will assume the remaining third, or $929,721, of the project’s costs.

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.

For provinces, like Quebec, that have committed all of their funding under the Communities Component, the Government of Canada’s Economic Action Plan provides for up to $500 million in additional funding for projects that will be completed by March 31, 2011.

In Quebec, a joint federal-provincial contribution of $232 million will be used to fund 106 infrastructure projects.

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.

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Sources:

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

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

Hélène Sauvageau
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister responsible for Aboriginal Affairs, minister responsible for the Abitibi-Témiscamingue and Nord-du-Québec Regions
Tel.: 418-646-9131