Dolbeau-Mistassini, Quebec, November 5, 2009 – The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, today announced the allocation of $180,000 in non-repayable funding by the Government of Canada to the Maria-Chapdelaine Regional County Municipality (RCM) for a feasibility study on the construction of a new railway bridge linking the eastern and western banks of the Mistassini River.
In order to pave the way for the development of the Grandes Rivières industrial park, the Maria-Chapdelaine RCM needs to equip itself with solid infrastructure facilities, including access to the railway system for the site’s future industrial occupants. The bridge construction project is thus part of a wider plan to further the development of the RCM’s infrastructure while supporting local efforts to attract a world-class aluminum smelter to Dolbeau-Mistassini.
“This project comes on the heels of the numerous initiatives local economic stakeholders have undertaken in recent years, in the face of problems associated with monoindustrial reliance, to pursue the common goal of local economic diversification. We applaud the concerted efforts deployed to date to bring this project to fruition and welcome the beneficial impacts it is sure to have on the community as a whole,” explained the Minister of State.
The awarding of this financial assistance from Canada Economic Development is conditional upon compliance with the Government of Canada’s funding allocation process and the signing of a formal contribution agreement between the Agency and the Maria-Chapdelaine RCM.
“In January 2009, our government adopted Canada’s Economic Action Plan to tackle the economic crisis that is hitting our country and the rest of the world. This large-scale measure is aimed not only at bringing about our rapid recovery, but also at laying the foundations for solid long-term economic growth and job creation. This plan will lead to the investment of nearly $62 billion in our economy over the next two years,” Minister Lebel concluded.
For more on Canada’s Economic Action Plan, see www.actionplan.gc.ca.
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Sources:
Suzanne Thebarge
Communications
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 514-496-6714
Cell.: 514-895-6237
E-mail: suzanne.thebarge@dec-ced.gc.ca
Simon Bachand
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 613-996-6236
E-mail: simon.bachand@dec-ced.gc.ca
