Lac-Etchemin, February 18, 2008 Acting on behalf of
Nathalie Normandeau, Deputy Premier of Quebec and Ministre des Affaires
municipales et des Régions, Laurent Lessard, Ministre de l'Agriculture,
des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation, Ministre responsable de la région de
la Chaudière-Appalaches and Member of the National Assembly for
Frontenac, 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 Lac-Etchemin will receive
$990,656 in combined government funding under the Municipal Rural Infrastructure
Fund (MRIF) for waterworks upgrades.
This assistance will serve mainly to replace the Mailhot Stream conduit by a
560-metre span of storm sewer pipeline between Highway 277 and Poulin Street.
The project also involves building two settling ponds, replacing a sanitary
sewer pipeline, re-routing water supply mains on 1st and 2nd avenues and various other complementary
works. These improvements, which will directly benefit some 3,987 residents, are
expected to help the municipality resolve the overflow problems that occur
during periods of heavy rainfall.
Completion of this project will necessitate a total eligible investment
of $1,485,984 under component 1 of the MRIF, toward which the Government of
Quebec and Government of Canada will each contribute $495,328, for a combined
total of $990,656 in government assistance. The Municipality of Lac-Etchemin
will, for its part, also assume $495,328 of the project's costs.
Lac-Etchemin Mayor Jean-Guy Breton said he is pleased that his municipality
will now be able to move forward with this priority project, which promises to
help improve both the quality of life for local citizens and community
infrastructure.
The Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund is a cost-sharing initiative of the
Government of Quebec and Government of Canada. The recent injection of an
additional $80 million into component 3 of the MRIF brings to $470 million the
total amount of financial assistance available under the Fund. With the
financial participation of 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 upgrade community infrastructure, improve the
quality of the environment, promote long-term economic growth and enhance
citizens' quality of life.
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 LevesqueCommunications AdvisorCommunications
BranchMinistère des Affaires municipales et des
Régions514-873-6910
Information:Jonathan TrudeauPress SecretaryOffice of
the Deputy Premierand Ministre des Affaires municipales et des
Régions 418-691-2050514-873-2622
Jean-Philippe PaymentPress SecretaryOffice of the Honourable
Jean-Pierre BlackburnCanada Economic Development819-953-5646
Guylaine BeaudoinCommunications AdvisorCanada Economic
Development 418-648-4679
