Chevery, Quebec, December 18, 2009 – The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, today joined Serge Simard, Minister for Natural Resources and Wildlife and Minister responsible for the Saguenay – Lac-Saint-Jean Region and the Côte-Nord Region, acting on behalf of Laurent Lessard, Quebec’s Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy, in announcing the awarding of $722,006 in joint government financial assistance to the Municipality of Côte-Nord-du-Golfe-du-Saint-Laurent under the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF) for the construction of a covered skating rink in Chevery.
The project involves construction of a covered skating rink in order to give the citizens of Chevery a place where they can enjoy sports-related activities and benefit from quality infrastructure.
Completion of this project will necessitate an overall eligible investment of $1,083,008, under component 3 of the MRIF. The governments of Quebec and Canada will each contribute $361,003 toward the work, for a total of $722,006 in combined government funding, up $226,064 following a first review of the project’s costs. For its part, the Municipality of Côte-Nord-du-Golfe-du-Saint-Laurent will invest $361,002 in the project.
Richmond Monger, Côte-Nord-du-Golfe-du-Saint-Laurent Council representative, said he was pleased to see this project come to fruition, as it promises to enhance citizens’ well-being and further the development of the region.
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:
Communications Branch
Department of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy
Tel.: 514-873-6903
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
Catherine Vallée
Communications
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 514-283-0368
