Métabetchouan–Lac-à-la-Croix, June 2, 2009 – The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development and Member of Parliament for Roberval–Lac-Saint-Jean, today joined Serge Simard, Ministre délégué aux Ressources naturelles et à la Faune and Ministre responsable de la région du Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, acting on behalf of Nathalie Normandeau, Ministre des Affaires municipales, des Régions et de l’Occupation du territoire, in announcing that the Regional County Municipality (RCM) of Lac-Saint-Jean-Est will receive $3,368,746 in joint government funding under the Communities Component of the Building Canada Fund - Quebec, for the optimization of the Véloroute des Bleuets. The RCM of Lac-Saint-Jean-Est is the authorized agent of the Véloroute des Bleuets and represents the region’s three RCMs: the RCM of Lac-Saint-Jean-Est, the RCM of Maria-Chapdelaine and the RCM of Le Domaine-du-Roy.
This project is aimed at enhancing the safety of the circuit’s bikeways by carrying out various deforestation, excavation, land-use planning, paving and signage operations.
The Véloroute des Bleuets is an integral part of Quebec’s cycling network development plan and was the first project announced under the province’s 4,300 km Route verte (green route) initiative. Since 1997, the Véloroute has extended its way around Lac-Saint-Jean, winding through 15 municipalities and the Montagnais community of Mashteuiatsh. Today, it includes more than 256 km of bikeways (paved shoulders, bicycle lanes and cycling paths).
The Véloroute provides the opportunity for open-air activity, while also encouraging diversification of the tourism offering. Its promoters have focused on the rehabilitation and revitalization of municipal lands, thereby generating community support for the project as well as a sense of ownership among the local and regional population. Lac-Saint-Jean residents, the primary users of the Véloroute, account for 58% of the network’s cyclists.
“Our communities are faced with unique challenges and need to be able to rely on quality public infrastructure to ensure their growth and development. The Véloroute des Bleuets is an exceptional lever of development that contributes to the socioeconomic vitality of the region. By lending its financial support to this project, the Government of Canada is also investing in the future of Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean,” stated Minister Lebel.
“Through its involvement in this major project, the Government of Quebec is forging ahead to help our municipalities develop infrastructure tailored to their realities and centred on sustainable development. This is essential for a modern, wealth-building economy. By injecting new funds into the Quebec Infrastructure Plan, our Government is seeking to speed up completion of numerous infrastructure works throughout the province in an effort to improve citizens’ well-being, create jobs and support a well-performing economy. We want to leave Quebec’s municipalities a legacy of quality infrastructure that will be indispensable to harnessing the challenges of the future,” added Minister Simard.
The Government of Quebec and Government of Canada will each invest $1,684,373 in this project, for a combined total of $3,368,746 in government funding, while the municipalities and community of Lac-Saint-Jean will contribute a total of $1,684,374.
The Communities Component of the Building Canada Fund – Quebec is a cost-sharing initiative aimed at funding the execution of infrastructure projects in communities with fewer than 100,000 inhabitants. These communities are thus able to use this assistance to improve infrastructure that is in major need of revitalization, including water treatment plants, water supply systems and cultural and sports centres.
An unprecedented funding commitment on the part of the Government of Canada, theBuilding Canada Fund – Quebec provides stable and predictable funding to support infrastructure projects. In Quebec, nearly $4 billion will be allocated to that end.
For further details on the Building Canada Fund – Quebec or the process for submitting a funding application, see www.buildingcanada-chantierscanada.gc.ca and www.mamrot.gouv.qc.ca/ .
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Sources:
Éric Lefebvre
Senior Special Assistant, Communications
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development
Cell: 613-608-7906
E-mail: eric.lefebvre@dec-ced.gc.ca
Nadia Marceau
Communications
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 418-668-4602 or 1-800-463-9808
Cell: 418-321-0295
E-mail: nadia.marceau@dec-ced.gc.ca
Christian Tanguay
Press Secretary
Office of the Deputy Premier and
Ministre des Affaires municipales,
des Régions et de l’Occupation du territoire
418-691-2050
