L’Ange-Gardien, June 5, 2009 – Acting on behalf of Nathalie Normandeau, Deputy Premier of Quebec and Ministre des Affaires municipales, des Régions et de l’Occupation du territoire, Norman MacMillan, Ministre délégué aux Transports, Ministre responsable de la région de l’Outaouais and Member of the National Assembly for Papineau, today joined the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, in announcing that the Municipality of L’Ange-Gardien will receive $392,892 in combined government financial assistance under the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF) for major roadwork.
This government funding will serve for the repair and reconstruction of seven sections of River Road, a municipal thoroughfare that extends from the northern limits of the City of Gatineau to the Municipality of Val-des-Monts, 17.6 km to the north. The project involves removing the existing asphalt, replacing two culverts, repaving the road and refilling the shoulders along 2.42 km of non-continuous road sections. These improvements will benefit some 4,000 local residents as well as tourists travelling through the region.
“These repairs to River Road are part of an overall development plan for the Les-Collines-de-l’Outaouais RCM and are necessary due to the importance of this roadway in promoting existing tourism infrastructure in the area. Once repaired, River Road will become a key part of the municipality’s future bicycle path network. The Government of Quebec is proud to support this project, which will not only enhance the tourism offering in the Outaouais region, but also bolster the drawing power of the Municipality of L’Ange-Gardien,” stated Minister MacMillan.
“Infrastructure projects like the one we are announcing today help foster local and regional development and are essential to Canada’s future. They serve to improve citizens’ quality of life in a very real and sustainable way, which is one of the reasons why the Government of Canada considers it so important to support initiatives that allow us to build on our tourism offering,” added Minister Lebel.
Completion of this project will require a total eligible investment to $589,337 under component 3 of the MRIF. The Government of Quebec and Government of Canada will each contribute $196,446 toward the work, for a total of $392,892 in combined government funding, while the Municipality of L’Ange-Gardien will invest an equivalent amount of $196,445.
The Mayor of L’Ange-Gardien, Armand Renaud, said he is delighted to see this project come to fruition in that it promises to play an important role in improving the well-being of local citizens and in furthering the development of the municipality.
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:
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
Stéphanie Desforges
Senior Special Assistant,
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development
514-496-1282
François Bélisle
Communications
Canada Economic Development
819-825-5260 ext. 235
