No. Q 004/08
For release - August 20, 2008
TROIS-PISTOLES (Quebec) — During his tour of Eastern Quebec, Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, inaugurated today the Trois-Pistoles/Les Escoumins ferry, Héritage 1. For the occasion, the Minister was accompanied by representatives of the Régie intermunicipale des infrastructures portuaires de Trois-Pistoles et des Escoumins, including the Mayor of Trois-Pistoles and president of the Régie intermunicipale, Jean-Pierre Rioux, the Mayor of Les Escoumins, Pierre Laurencelle, the Chief of the Innu of Essipit band council, Denis Ross, and the Mayor of Notre-Dame-des-Neiges, Gérard Beaulieu.
"Today, I am accepting an invitation that the representatives of the Régie intermunicipale des infrastructures portuaires de Trois-Pistoles et des Escoumins extended to me during the transfer of the wharves last fall," stated Minister Cannon. "I am pleased to see that the ferry is back in service. Thanks to sustained effort and perseverance, the Régie intermunicipale was able to acquire the facilities and put the ferry back into operation. Once again, partnership, in the spirit of open federalism put forward by our government, gives tangible results ».
On October 5, 2007, the Trois-Pistoles and Les Escoumins facilities were transferred to a intermunicipal administration made up of the municipality of Les Escoumins, the City of Trois-Pistoles, the municipality of Notre-Dame-des-Neiges and the Innu of Essipit First Nations.
In addition to transferring the title of ownership, the Government of Canada gave the Régie intermunicipale over 15 million dollars in funding to repair the infrastructures and cover the operating and maintenance costs for the next ten years. The transferred property includes the infrastructures of the Trois-Pistoles and Les Escoumins, namely the wharves and the landing piers.
"This transfer is a perfect example of the benefits harbour communities can enjoy thanks to Transport Canada's Port Divestiture Program," added Minister Cannon. Port facilities transfer is part of the Port Divestiture Program whose main aim is to transfer regional and local port facilities to other interests. After a port facility's transfer, the Government of Canada closely monitors the use of the funds provided and continues to ensure the security and safety of marine activities.
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