Important Canada-Quebec investment to optimize Quebec municipal infrastructure
Québec, Quebec, November 13, 2009 – The Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of Public Works and Government Services, and Laurent Lessard, Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy, are pleased to announce that more than 100 municipalities will benefit from joint financial assistance of up to just over $336 million for 144 projects through the Building Canada Fund, Communities Component, and through PRECO, under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund.
"This important investment of close to $170 million demonstrates the will of the federal government to get shovels in the ground as quickly as possible for these 144 infrastructure projects, to stimulate the economy and create jobs for all municipalities in Quebec. This is another great example of excellent collaboration between Canada and Quebec to renew public infrastructure. These investments, which are at the heart of our Economic Action Plan, will enable municipalities to make their communities healthier, safer and more modern to improve the well-being of Quebec citizens," said Minister Paradis.
"By contributing to these projects, the Government of Quebec is moving forward to give the municipalities of Quebec infrastructure that is adapted to our current situation and focused on sustainable development. By investing new capital funds through Quebec's infrastructure plan, le Plan québécois des infrastructures, the government wants to accelerate the completion of numerous infrastructure projects in the province in order to improve the well-being of the citizens of Quebec, create jobs and support a strong economy. We want municipalities to have a legacy of quality infrastructure, the required tools to face tomorrow's challenges", added Minister Lessard.
Communities Component
The governments of Quebec and Canada will each contribute close to $125 million for 79 projects, which represents more than $249 million in total government financial assistance, while the municipalities concerned will provide the remaining costs, for a total of approximately $375 million in construction.
The Communities Component of the Building Canada Fund – Quebec, through equal contributions from the two levels of government, aims to fund infrastructure projects in communities that have fewer than 100,000 inhabitants. Thanks to the funding granted to them, these communities are thus able to improve infrastructure in major need of revitalization, such as water treatment plants, water reservoir networks, and cultural and sport centres.
Representing an unprecedented funding commitment by 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.
The governments of Canada and Quebec have also announced joint funding of close to $87 million for 65 projects among 31 Quebec municipalities and intermunicipal administrations through the federal-provincial agreement for the PRECO program.
The Government of Canada contribution for these projects comes from the new, $4–billion, nation-wide Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, part of Canada's Economic Action Plan announced in the January 2009 budget. As part of this fund, the Government of Canada has committed to invest $936 million in projects in Quebec, of which $350 million is for the PRECO program.
The Government of Quebec contribution is being made under the Quebec infrastructure plan, le Plan québecois des infrastructures, which was enhanced in January 2009 and now has an envelope of nearly $42 billion to be spent on infrastructure renewal in Quebec over the next five years.
The contribution announced today by the Government of Canada has been granted under Canada's Economic Action Plan. For more details about this plan, please visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.
For further details on the Quebec infrastructure plan le Plan québécois des infrastructures, see www.infrastructures.gouv.qc.ca.
For further details on the Building Canada Fund – Quebec and the process for submitting a funding application, see www.creatingjobs.gc.ca and www.mamrot.gouv.qc.ca.
Backgrounders:
Sources:
Mary-Ann Dewey-Plante
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Public Works and Government Services
Tel.: 613-956-5325
Sylvain Bourassa
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy
Tel.: 418-691-2050
