No. H 044/08
For release - February 20, 2008
BRISTOL, QUEBEC — The Governments of Canada and Quebec announced today that work to restore the Ottawa Central Railway will begin soon. Both levels of government will invest over $1.5 million for this $2.4-million project.
The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities and MP for Pontiac, and Ms. Charlotte L'Écuyer, MNA for Pontiac, handed over a symbolic cheque to Marc Laliberté, President of the Quebec Railway Corporation during an event at Bristol.
"As Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, and MP for Pontiac, I am very pleased about this great news, which will have direct benefits for my constituents," said Minister Cannon. "These investments will be very beneficial socio-economically speaking for Pontiac."
"I am particularly pleased about this substantial project which allows the Ottawa Central Railway to have more capacity on its rails, and to meet the North American standards," said Ms. L'Écuyer. "This investment will improve our regional rail service and give us access to the continental rail network."
"In addition to helping the railway upgrade to North American standards, the contribution by the two governments along with the private investment will ensure that this infrastructure can continue to play its essential role for regional shippers," said Mr. Laliberté, President of the Quebec Railway Corporation and owner of the Ottawa Central Railway.
Under the restoration program, the Government of Canada will invest $948,000, the Government of Quebec over $632,000, and the Ottawa Central Railway more than $789,000 over a period of five years in support of the project.
The work will upgrade the carrying capacity of the Railway's tracks over a distance of 36 kilometres.
Shortline railways provide regional railway service, and for Quebec businesses they are essential for trade. The shortline companies operate more than 38 per cent of the Quebec railway network, i.e. over 2,300 kilometres of track. Over 80 per cent of the goods shipped by shortline railways in Quebec are destined for the United States. The goods shipped are mainly wood, paper, pulp, particle board, ore and aluminum. In this way, shortline railways play an indispensable role in the Quebec economy.
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Contacts:
Karine White
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities and Minister responsible for Quebec
613-991-0700
Stéphane Lauzon
Head of Partner and User Liaison Services
Transports Québec
819-772-3107, ext. 259
Media Relations
Transport Canada, Ottawa
613-993-0055
Denise Morrissette
Policy Advisor
Office of Charlotte L'Écuyer MNA for Pontiac
819-648-7070
Pierre Fallu
President and CEO
Société de promotion de l’industrie ferroviaire
514-267-1935
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