No. H 023/08
For release - February 1, 2008
Quebec City — The Governments of Canada and Quebec are pleased to announce the signing of the Canada-Quebec Agreement in support of the project to restore the Charlevoix Railway, evaluated at $10.6 million.
The Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of Canadian Heritage, the Status of Women and Official Languages, on behalf of the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, and Mr. Philippe Couillard, Quebec Minister of Health and Social Services and Minister responsible for the National Capital Region, today announced that this agreement represents more than $7 million from the Governments of Canada and Quebec.
"The restoration of shortline railways will generate socio-economic benefits for the regions of Quebec," said Minister Verner. "This project will provide support to the industries and businesses that use the railway network and will increase the efficiency of the trade corridors in these regions."
"In addition to offering a viable option for the transportation of goods, this investment in the railway network will bring about the successful completion of the tourist train project in the Charlevoix region. In taking this action, our government has shown its willingness to support economic and tourist development in the greater region of Quebec, within a perspective of sustainable development," said Minister Couillard.
The Government of Canada will invest more than $4.2 million and the Government of Quebec more than $2.8 million over a period of five years in order to support this project as part of the Canada-Quebec Agreement on the Restoration of Shortline Infrastructure in Quebec. This ambitious program, to which the shortline railways will also be contributing, will generate global investments of more than $75 million over a period of five years. Its purpose is to maintain an efficient railway transport network that is competitive and better integrated with the continental railway network, notably in the principal trade and transportation corridors.
The work will increase the carrying capacity of the track, in accordance with North American standards. In addition, the right-of-way portions of the Charlevoix Railway located along the shoreline will be protected in several areas. The rockfill will counter the effects of the tides. The work will cover a distance of 145 kilometres.
The shortlines provide regional railway service, and for local businesses they are essential for trade. These companies run more than 38 per cent of the Quebec railway network, that is, more than 2,300 kilometres of railway. In Quebec, more than 80 per cent of the products shipped over the shortlines are destined for the United States. The merchandise shipped over these regional railroads is mainly wood, paper, pulp, particle board, ore and aluminum. Shortlines thus play an indispensable role in the Quebec economy.
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Contacts:
Karine WhitePress SecretaryOffice of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities and Minister responsible for Quebec613-991-0700
Isabelle MerizziPress SecretaryOffice of the Minister of Health and Social Services and Minister responsible for the National Capital Region418-266-7171
Media RelationsTransport Canada, Ottawa613-993-0055
Jean ArmandCommunications AdvisorMinistère des Transports du Québec418-644-1520, ext. 2567
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