Albertville, Quebec, December 21, 2009 – The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, today joined Claude Béchard, Member of the Quebec National Assembly for Kamouraska-Témiscouata, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Minister responsible for Canadian Intergovernmental Affairs and the Reform of Democratic Institutions, Deputy Government House Leader and Minister responsible for the Bas-Saint-Laurent region, acting on behalf of Laurent Lessard, Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy, in announcing that the municipality of Albertville will receive $733,696 in joint government financial assistance under the Communities Component of the Building Canada Fund – Quebec (FCCQ) to improve its wastewater treatment system.
The project involves upgrading the municipality’s current wastewater system with a new island system that will enable water infiltration into the ground. The work will mainly include replacing wastewater collector pipes and storm pipes under Saint-Raphaël Nord Street, installing an interceptor pipe to connect the septic tank to the planned treatment system, building a larger-capacity pumping station and carrying out various other complementary works. The new system will serve 18 homes as well as a school, church and credit union, thereby benefiting some 94 people.
“Last January, the Government of Canada adopted an ambitious economic recovery plan that includes a commitment to modernizing our national infrastructure network. It is on that basis that we decided to invest in this Albertville project and, consequently, in local development. We are doing what is necessary to help the municipality establish a more effective wastewater collection and treatment system in the greater interest of public health and environmental protection,” stated Minister Lebel.
“In supporting this project, the Government of Quebec is moving forward to ensure the province’s municipalities have infrastructure that suits their unique realities while fostering sustainable development. By injecting new capital into the Quebec Infrastructure Plan, our government is looking to accelerate the execution of numerous infrastructure projects throughout the province, like this one in Albertville, in an effort to improve Quebecers’ well-being, create jobs and promote a high-performance economy. In this way, we are leaving the municipality a legacy of quality infrastructure with which to face the challenges of the future,” added Minister Béchard.
Completion of this project will necessitate an overall eligible investment of $879,160. The governments of Quebec and Canada will each contribute $366,848 toward the work, for a total of $733,696 in combined government funding, while the municipality of Albertville will itself invest $145,464 in the project.
The Communities Component of the Building Canada Fund – Quebec is a cost-sharing initiative aimed at funding infrastructure projects in communities with fewer than 100,000 inhabitants. These communities are thus able to use this assistance to improve infrastructure that is in major need of revitalization, including water treatment plants, water supply systems and cultural and sports centres.
An unprecedented funding commitment on the part of 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 contribution from the Government of Canada has been awarded through Canada’s Economic Action Plan. To learn more about this plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.
For further information on the Government of Quebec’s Quebec Infrastructure Plan, see www.infrastructures.gouv.qc.ca.
To find out more about the Building Canada Fund – Quebec or the process for submitting a funding application, visit www.buildingcanada-chantierscanada.gc.ca and www.mamrot.gouv.qc.ca/.
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Sources:
Simon Bachand
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 613-996-6236
Sylvain Bourassa
Press Secretary
Office of the Quebec Minister of Municipal Affairs, Region and Land Occupancy
Tel.: 418-691-2050
Johanne Levesque
Communications Advisor
Communications Branch
Department of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy
Tel.: 514-873-6910
Pascale Dumont-Bédard
Media Relations Officer for Bas-Saint-Laurent Office of the MNA for Kamouraska-Témiscouata
Tel.: 418-492-7730
