Saguenay, Quebec, October 23, 2009 – Acting on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, the Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of National Revenue, Minister of State (Agriculture and Agri-Food) and Member of Parliament for Jonquière–Alma, today announced the awarding of $166,666 in non-repayable funding to Promotion Saguenay under the Community Diversification program for the commissioning of preliminary studies on the construction of a rail service linking the Grande-Anse maritime terminal to the Quebec railway system.
The Saguenay port, the only public port in the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region, is of strategic importance for trade. Development of a new railway infrastructure could prove beneficial in bolstering the region’s industrial product exports to domestic and foreign markets and, by extension, help its enterprises become more competitive. Minister Blackburn underscored the high level of mobilization and consensus this project has generated.
“The world recession has issued us a powerful reminder of why Quebec’s communities, and our region in particular, need to reduce their reliance on certain industries and diversify their economies. This rail service project in Grande-Anse has the potential to create real growth opportunities for Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean and to enable our region to gain a solid foothold in global markets. The Government of Canada adopted its Economic Action Plan precisely to support communities that, despite this recession, are stepping up their efforts to contribute to our economic recovery. Through this plan, we are able to finance the preliminary studies Promotion Saguenay intends to commission on the construction of a critical development tool for the region,” Minister Blackburn concluded.
For more on Canada’s Economic Action Plan, see www.actionplan.gc.ca.
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Sources:
Guylaine Beaudoin
Communications
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 418-648-4679
Cell.: 418-580-8215
E-mail: guylaine.beaudoin@dec-ced.gc.ca
Louise Malaison
Senior Assistant
Office of the Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn
Member of Parliament for Jonquière-Alma
Tel: 418-695-4477
Cell.: 418-540-3863
E-mail: blackj1a@parl.gc.ca
Simon Bachand
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development
Cell.: 613-996-6236
E-mail: simon.bachand@dec-ced.gc.ca
