Canada-Quebec investment of $3,066,126 in Rivière-du-Loup for development of an urban park in the downtown core

Building Canada Fund – Quebec, Communities Component

Rivière-du-Loup, Quebec, March 5, 2010 – Acting on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, Bernard Généreux, Member of Parliament for Montmagny–L’Islet–Kamouraska–Rivière-du-Loup, today joined Jean D’Amour, Member of the National Assembly for Rivière-du-Loup, acting on behalf of Laurent Lessard, Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy, in announcing that the City of Rivière-du-Loup will receive $3,066,126 in joint government financial assistance under the Communities Component of the Building Canada Fund – Quebec for the development of an urban park.

Rivière-du-Loup’s project involves developing an urban park in the city’s downtown core, on land that has been vacant for years, at the corner of Saint-Pierre and Desjardins Streets. This urban park will benefit not only the local and regional population but also the many tourists to this area. The project will create two kilometres of pathways for pedestrians and inline skaters, three surfaces for sports activities and a natural amphitheatre.

“The project to develop an urban park in Rivière-du-Loup’s downtown core will benefit the city’s residents and businesses alike. 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 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,” stated MP Bernard Généreux.

“By participating in this project, the Government of Quebec is moving forward to ensure the province’s municipalities have infrastructure that meets 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 Rivière-du-Loup, in an effort to improve Quebecers’ well-being, create jobs and promote a high-performance economy. In this way, we are leaving the municipality a legacy of quality infrastructure with which to face the challenges of the future,” added MNA Jean D’Amour.

Completion of this project will necessitate an overall eligible investment of $4,599,188. The governments of Quebec and Canada will each contribute $1,533,063 toward the work, for a total of $3,066,126 in combined government funding, with the City of Rivière-du-Loup assuming the remaining third, or $1,533,062, 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