Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund
Auclair, Quebec, November 12, 2009 – Acting on behalf of Laurent Lessard, Quebec Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy, Claude Béchard, Quebec Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Minister responsible for Canadian Intergovernmental Affairs and the Reform of Democratic Institutions, Minister responsible for the Bas-Saint-Laurent Region, Deputy Government House Leader and Member of the National Assembly for Kamouraska-Témiscouata, today joined the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, in announcing that the Municipality of Auclair has been awarded an additional $111,422 in government funding, up from $1,468,628 to $1,580,050, under the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF) for wastewater treatment upgrades.
This additional government assistance, awarded due to an increase in the initial cost of the project, will be used to complete the sewage treatment works as well as install a larger flow chamber for full wastewater treatment in the Municipality of Auclair.
This project involves the installation of wastewater interception and treatment facilities. The work includes the laying of some 350 metres of sanitary sewer lines, the construction of an aerated pond treatment plant and the installation of phosphate removal equipment. These upgrades will directly benefit some 230 local residents and are expected to improve the quality of the environment.
“I welcome the additional assistance being granted today to the Municipality of Auclair, which will have a positive impact on the living environment. This new infrastructure meets the needs expressed by local residents,” stated Minister Béchard.
“The increase in funding awarded today will benefit all residents in the Municipality of Auclair. We are proud to be able to offer Canadians the high level of quality of life for which our country is famous. Public infrastructure renewal is part of our larger action plan to help Canada’s communities flourish and prosper in a healthy environment,” said Minister of State Denis Lebel.
Completion of this project will necessitate an increase in government financial assistance, bringing the overall eligible investment to $1,858,884 under component 1 of the MRIF. The governments of Quebec and Canada will now each contribute $790,025 toward these improvements, for a total of $1,580,050 in combined government funding, while the Municipality of Auclair will itself invest $278,834 in the project.
Auclair Mayor Nathalie Belzile said she was delighted with this additional government assistance, which will bring the project to completion, while improving community infrastructure for the benefit of the local population.
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
Information:
Sylvain Bourassa
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy
Tel.: 418-691-2050
Pascale Dumont-Bédard
In charge of press relations for the Bas-Saint-Laurent region
Office of the député-ministre of Kamouraska-Témiscouata
Tel.: 418-492-7730
Simon Bachand
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 613-996-6236
Claudie Lamontagne
Communications
Développement économique Canada
Tel.: 418-722-3280 ou 1-800-463-9073
