Québec, June 25, 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 the Honourable Jean‑Pierre Blackburn, Minister of Labour and Minister of Canada Economic Development, in announcing that the Municipality of Sainte-Euphémie-sur-Rivière-du-Sud will receive $2,505,75 in combined government funding under the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF) for major waterworks upgrades.
More specifically, this work will involve improvements to the municipality's sewage collection system, including the laying of domestic sewer pipes along a 1.3-kilometre span of Principale Street and a 320-metre stretch of Route de la Station. The replacement of water mains during the installation of the new sewer system will be part of the wastewater treatment project.
Upgrades to the sewage interception and treatment system will involve construction of a pumping station and installation of a force main near the new aerated lagoon treatment plant, construction of a service building and installation of an aeration system and outfall pipe discharging into the Perdrix stream. These improvements will directly benefit some 230 local residents and help protect the environment.
Completion of this project will necessitate a total eligible investment of $2,637,632 under component 1 of the MRIF. As such, the Government of Quebec and Government of Canada will each contribute $1,252,875 toward this work, for a total of $2,505,750 in combined government funding, while the Municipality of Sainte-Euphémie-sur-Rivière-du-Sud will assume $131,882 of the project's costs.
Sainte-Euphémie-sur-Rivière-du-Sud Mayor Laurence Hallé said she is pleased that this priority project for the municipality's development will now be carried out in that it will serve to renew community infrastructure from the point of view of sustainable development and help improve the well-being of local citizens.
The Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund is a cost-sharing initiative of the Government of Quebec and Government of Canada that makes $470 million in funding available to Quebec municipalities and non-governmental organizations. With the financial participation of these 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 improve community infrastructure, the quality of the environment and citizens' quality of life, and to promote long-term economic growth.
The program, which is in force until March 31, 2010, is administered by Quebec's Ministère des Affaires municipales et des Régions (only in French). 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 Levesque
Communications Advisor
Communications Branch
Ministère des Affaires municipales et des Régions
Tel.: 514-864-4294
Information:
Jonathan Trudeau
Press Secretary
Office of the Deputy Premier and
Ministre des Affaires municipales et des Régions
Tel.: 418-691-2050
Pierre Miquelon
Office of the Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 514-496-1282
Nathalie Lévesque
Communications Advisor
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 514-283-0306
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