Gracefield, Quebec, July 24, 2009 – Acting on behalf of Laurent Lessard, Quebec’s Ministre des Affaires municipales, des Régions et de l’Occupation du territoire, Stéphanie Vallée, Member of the National Assembly for Gatineau and Parliamentary Assistant to the Premier of Quebec, today joined the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister responsible for the Outaouais region and Member of Parliament for Pontiac, acting on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, on the occasion of the official inauguration of Gracefield’s new water treatment plant to announce that the municipality received an additional $252,176 in joint government funding under the Canada-Quebec Infrastructure Works (CQIW) program, up from $1,881,200 to $2,133,376, to carry out this project.
This funding was used mainly to ensure the catchment of wastewater collected by the sewer system and its piping to the new water treatment plant. The work included the installation of a one-kilometre stretch of sewage pipes and a 600-metre force main, as well as the construction of aerated basins, a pumping station and an aerated pond wastewater treatment plant. These new facilities directly benefit some 400 local residents.
Completion of this project necessitated a total eligible investment of $2,509,854 under component 1.1 of the CQIW, toward which the governments of Canada and Quebec each contributed $1,066,688, for a total of $2,133,376 in combined government funding, and the City of Gracefield $376,478.
Gracefield Mayor Réal Rochon said he is delighted that this important project has now been carried out in that it promises not only to ensure the sustainable development of the community’s infrastructure, but also to protect the environment and improve local citizens’ quality of life.
The Canada-Quebec Infrastructure Works program is aimed at helping communities repair, replace and build water supply, sewer and sewage treatment systems, develop projects involving experiments with new technologies and create projects that enhance, restore or construct facilities with economic, urban or regional side benefits. This aspect of the program is overseen by the Ministère des Affaires municipales, des Régions et de l’Occupation du territoire. The program also supports highway systems and public transportation, under the responsibility of the Ministère des Transports du Québec and Infrastructures-Transport. Canada Economic Development administers the program on behalf of the Government of Canada. The program will generate work worth a total of $1.686 billion.
- 30 -
Source:
Johanne Levesque
Communications Advisor
Communications Branch
Ministère des Affaires municipales, des Régions et de l’Occupation du territoire
Tel.: 514-873-6403, ext. 6146
Information:
Sylvain Bourassa
Press Secretary
Office of the Ministre des Affaires municipales, des Régions et de l’Occupation du territoire
Tel.: 418-691-2050
Catherine Loubier
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Lawrence Cannon
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Tel.: 613-995-1851
Simon Bachand
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development
Tel.:613-996-6236
Karina Gagnon
Communications
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 418-368-6048 or 1-866-368-0044
