Girardville, Quebec, October 2, 2009 – The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, today joined Serge Simard, Quebec's Minister for Natural Resources and Wildlife and Minister responsible for the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean Region, acting on behalf of Laurent Lessard, Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy, in announcing that the Municipality of Girardville will receive $304,278 in joint government funding under the Communities component of the Building Canada Fund – Quebec to upgrade its drinking water supply system.
The project involves installing a dedicated water reserve to ensure disinfection, including a pumping station. The work includes replacing the chlorination system and installing a generator and two high-pressure pumps at the pumping station, as well as expanding the service building, which is located near the water-supply wells. Various complementary work, such as building a fence around the groundwater supply facilities, is also planned. This project will directly benefit 974 local residents.
"This project to upgrade the Girardville drinking water plant will benefit many residents and businesses in the municipality. We are proud to be able to offer citizens the high quality of life for which our country is famous. The Government of Canada has made it its goal to ensure that every community is equipped with the infrastructure that is essential to the health, safety and well-being of our citizens. Public infrastructure renewal is part of a broad action plan that will allow us to prosper in a healthy environment," explained Minister of State Denis Lebel.
"In supporting this major project, the Government of Quebec is moving forward to ensure that the province's municipalities have infrastructure that suits their unique realities while fostering sustainable development, a key element of any modern, wealth-building economy. By injecting new capital into the Quebec Infrastructure Plan, our government is looking to accelerate the execution of numerous infrastructure projects throughout the province in an effort to improve the well-being of Quebecers, create jobs and promote a high-performance economy. Our government wants to leave the municipality a legacy of quality infrastructure with which to face the challenges of the future," added Minister Simard.
Completion of this project will necessitate an overall eligible investment of $608,555. The governments of Quebec and Canada will each contribute $152,139 toward the work, for a total of $304,278 in combined government funding, while the Municipality of Girardville will, for its part, invest $304,277 in the project.
The Communities component of the Building Canada Fund – Quebec is a cost-sharing initiative aimed at funding 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.
The contribution from the Government of Canada has been awarded through Canada's Economic Action Plan. To learn more about this plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.
For further details on the Building Canada Fund – Quebec or the process for submitting a funding application, see www.buildingcanada.gc.ca and www.mamrot.gouv.qc.ca.
- 30 -
Sources:
Simon Bachand
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 613-996-6236
Suzanne Thebarge
Communications
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 514-496-6714
Sylvain Bourassa
Press Secretary
Office of the Quebec Minister of Municipal Affairs, Region and Land Occupancy
Tel.: 418-691-2050
Jack Roy
Political Advisor
Office of the Quebec Minister for Natural Resources and Wildlife
Tel.: 418-643-7295
Communications Branch
Department of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy of Quebec
Tel.: 514-873-6910
