Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, November 9, 2009 – Acting on behalf of Laurent Lessard, Quebec Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy, Nicole Ménard, Minister of Tourism, Minister responsible for the Montérégie region and Member of the National Assembly for Laporte, today joined the Honourable Senator Andrée Champagne, acting on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, in announcing on the occasion of the official inauguration of the new Maison de la Famille des Maskoutains that $675,188 in joint government financial assistance was awarded to this project through the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF).
This funding was used for the construction of a new building for the Maison de la Famille des Maskoutains in Saint-Hyacinthe’s Sacré-Cœur district, not far from the organization’s former location on Lamothe Avenue.
Since its establishment in 1993, this non-profit community organization has been working to provide educational, social and cultural services and activities to Saint-Hyacinthe area families. In 1999, the Maison was given the responsibility of welcoming immigrants to the Les Maskoutains Regional County Municipality (RCM) and helping them integrate the community. After a considerable increase in clientele, the organization now offers a wide range of prevention, referral, guidance and support services, including tutoring, caregiver support and information workshops for parents of teens.
The strong growth in demand and services has resulted in the need for additional space. The new two-storey, 546 square-metre building thus includes three meeting rooms, a dozen offices, a daycare centre, kitchen and dining room. All of these facilities are wheelchair accessible.
“This project promises to benefit all of the citizens of the region and the Government of Quebec is pleased to see it come to fruition. With this new building, the Maison de la Famille des Maskoutains will be in a position to pursue its activities and develop to its full potential,” stated Minister Ménard.
“The people of Saint-Hyacinthe can be rightfully proud of today’s announcement. Infrastructure projects like this one contribute to sustainable community growth and development. The Government of Canada is sparing no effort to bring concrete improvements to the population’s quality of life and to ensure the future of our communities. Indeed, the Building Canada plan provides for a record investment of $33 billion in our country’s infrastructure. An investment of that magnitude can only strengthen our economy, improve our environment and guarantee our prosperity,” added Senator Champagne.
Completion of this project necessitated a total eligible investment of $1,012,782 under component 3 of the MRIF. The governments of Quebec and Canada each contributed $337,594 toward the project, for a total of $675,188 in combined government funding, while the Maison de la Famille des Maskoutains invested an equivalent amount of $337,594.
The director of the Maison de la Famille des Maskoutains, Jacques Poirier, said he is delighted with this new construction and the organization’s relocation. The new building, far larger than the former premises, will allow the organization to better meet the needs of the community for many years to come while ensuring greater flexibility and serviceability of the facilities.
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 the Quebec Department of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy. 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
Department of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy
Tel.: 514-873-6910
André Poirier
Political Advisor
Office of the Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Montérégie region
Tel.: 450-672-1885
Information:
Sylvain Bourassa
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy
Tel.: 418-691-2050
Simon Bachand
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 613-996-623
Marie-Claude Lemire
Communications
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 514-283-2199
