Saint-Malachie, Quebec, July 3, 2009 – Mr. Steven Blaney, Member of Parliament for Lévis-Bellechasse, and Dominique Vien, Ministre des Services gouvernementaux and députée de Bellechasse, acting on behalf of Laurent Lessard, Quebec’s Ministre des Affaires municipales, des Régions et de l’Occupation du territoire and Ministre responsable de la région de Chaudière-Appalaches, are pleased to announce that the Regional County Municipality (RCM) of Bellechasse will receive $528,588 in joint government funding under the Communities Component of the Building Canada Fund - Quebec, for the optimization of its bicycle path.
This project is aimed at enhancing the safety of the circuit’s bikeways by carrying out various widening, grading and road planning operations, as well as by extending the path by some 900 metres through the addition of two urban road segments. The first segment is located behind the Exceldor plant and the other in the Municipality of Saint-Malachie.
The Cycloroute de Bellechasse 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.
“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 Bellechasse RCM bicycle path 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 the region. That is why the Government of Canada is proud to join forces with the Government of Quebec in providing concrete support to a wide range of projects dedicated to improving infrastructure that is essential to the well-being of our communities,” stated Mr. Blaney.
The Bellechasse RCM bicycle path is an integral part of Quebec’s cycling network development plan. In 2008, 74 km of the circuit were developed and inaugurated this past June. Beginning at the northern limits of the Municipality of Saint-Henri to the Parc des chutes d’Armagh, this trail goes through eight municipalities of the RCM and will eventually be extended from Saint-Henri to Pintendre, connecting with the Parcours des Anses bordering the river.
“This bicycle path is a major infrastructure for both the Bellechasse riding and the Chaudière-Appalaches region as a whole. I am pleased that the Government of Quebec, a funding partner in the path’s construction, is now taking part in its optimization. I am convinced that the Cycloroute de Bellechasse’s “74 km of pure bliss” will be linked up with the Parcours des Anses in the very near future,” added Minister Vien.
The Government of Quebec and Government of Canada will each invest $264,294 in this project, for a combined total of $528,588 in government funding, while the RCM of Bellechasse will contribute a total of $264,294.
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, the Building 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:
Stéphanie Desforges
Senior Special Assistant, Communications
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 514-496-1282
E-mail: Stephanie.desforges@dec-ced.gc.ca
Sylvain Bourassa
Press Secretary
Office of the Ministre des Affaires municipales,
des Régions et de l’Occupation du territoire
Tel.: 418-691-2050
Marie-Eve Doyon
Press Secretary
Office of the Ministre des Services gouvernementaux
Tel.: 418-528-0177
Information:
Marie-Claude Lemire
Communications
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 514-283-2199
Cell.: 514-966-0661
E-mail: marie-claude.lemire@dec-ced.gc.ca
Johanne Levesque
Communications Advisor
Communications Branch
Ministère des Affaires municipales,
des Régions et de l’Occupation du territoire
Tel.: 514-873-6403, ext. 6146
