Saint-Anselme, June 27, 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 Saint-Anselme will receive $5,092,738 in joint government funding under the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF) for work aimed at increasing the capacity of its water treatment facilities and bringing them up to standard.
The project mainly involves carrying out improvements to the filtration plant, including, among other things, replacing a settling tank, adding a gravity filter, installing an ultraviolet disinfection system and building an additional underground water reservoir and service building. Other infrastructure relocation work is also planned, including the laying of a water main along Etchemin River and Morissette Road, the installation of water, sewer and storm pipes between Highway 277 and Principale Street, and various complementary works. Together, these upgrades will directly benefit some 2,200 local residents.
"Execution of this project will enable Coopérative Exceldor, the main employer in the Municipality of Saint-Anselme, to pursue its plant expansion and production increase. These improvements will help further Exceldor's industrial growth while promoting the development of the Municipality of Saint-Anselme," stated Minister Lessard.
"This work will clearly benefit not only Coopérative Exceldor, but also the citizens of this municipality, who will now be able to count on better quality drinking water. The Government of Canada will continue fostering the vitality of communities by funding projects like this one through its new Building Canada plan," added Mr. Blaney.
Completion of this major project will necessitate a total eligible investment of $7,639,107 under component 3 of the MRIF. As such, the Government of Quebec and Government of Canada will each contribute $2,546,369 toward this work, for a total of $5,092,738 in combined government funding, while the Municipality of Saint-Anselme will also assume $2,546,369 of the project's costs.
Saint-Anselme Mayor Michel Bonneau said he is delighted to see this project move forward in that it will allow the municipality to improve its community infrastructure from a sustainable development perspective and better meet the population's needs.
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 (in French only). Canada Economic Development is responsible for delivering the federal portion of the MRIF on behalf of the Government of Canada.
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Sources:
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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