Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF)
L'Anse-aint-Jean, April 24, 2009 – Acting on behalf of Nathalie Normandeau, Deputy Premier of Quebec and Ministre des Affaires municipales, des Régions et de l'Occupation du territoire, Serge Simard, Ministre délégué aux Ressources naturelles et à la Faune and Ministre responsable de la région du Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, today joined the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, in announcing that the Municipality of L'Anse-Saint-Jean will receive $1,190,094 in joint government funding under the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF) for new water and sewer infrastructure to serve a residential complex near Mont Édouard.
This assistance will be used to help the municipality meet the water and sewer infrastructure requirements for residents. The project itself involves building a drinking water reservoir upstream of the residential complex and hooking it up to the existing sector and water supply system. It also calls for the installation of a water booster station near the existing well, the connection of this station to the system in place and the construction of a wastewater treatment system with drainage ditch. This new infrastructure will make it possible to connect some 90 homes situated outside of the development sector to the water system. The plan also includes additional work on the booster station and water reservoir and various complementary repairs and upgrades. With these new facilities, the municipality expects to increase its population by as much as 800 residents.
"I am so pleased that this work is getting under way, as it is sure to play a major role in the development of this new sector located right next to the Mont-Édouard ski centre, only kilometres away from L'Anse-Saint-Jean's urban core. This new infrastructure will help improve the services available to citizens and further the development of tourism activities in the region," stated Minister Simard.
"Infrastructure projects like the one we are announcing today have a positive impact on local and regional development. They are also essential to Canada's future in that they help improve our citizens' quality of life in a tangible and sustainable way while providing strong impetus for job creation. This new housing complex in the municipality will draw more people to Mont-Édouard, which in turn should generate greater prosperity. This is one of the many reasons why the Government of Canada is committed to supporting initiatives that help improve and build on our tourism offering," added Minister of State Lebel.
Completion of this project will necessitate a total eligible investment of $1,785,142 under component 3 of the MRIF. The Government of Quebec and Government of Canada will each contribute $595,047 toward this work, for a total of $1,190,094 in combined government funding, while the Municipality of L'Anse-Saint-Jean will assume $595,048 of the project's costs.
The Mayor of L'Anse-Saint-Jean, Claude Boucher, said he is delighted at the positive impact this work will have on the municipality's drawing power, while helping to improve the community's infrastructure from a sustainable development standpoint.
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, des Régions et de l'Occupation du territoire. 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, des Régions et de l'Occupation du territoire
514-873-6910
Information:
Louise Quintin
Press Secretary
Office of the Deputy Premier and
Ministre des Affaires municipales, des Régions et de l'Occupation du territoire
418-691-2050
Jolyane Pronovost
Press Secretary
Office of the Ministre délégué aux Ressources naturelles et à la Faune
418 643-729
Éric Lefebvre
Senior Special Assistant, Communications
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development
613-608-7906
Nadia Marceau
Communications
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 418 668-4602
