Magog, Quebec, March 8, 2010 – The Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of Natural Resources and Member of Parliament for Mégantic–L'Érable, today joined Pierre Reid, Member of the National Assembly for Orford and Temporary Committee Chair, acting on behalf of Laurent Lessard, Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy, in announcing that the organization Les Amis du Marais de la Rivière Aux Cerises (LAMRAC) will receive $2,344,312 in joint government financial assistance under the Communities Componentof the Building Canada Fund – Quebec for the Rivière aux Cerises Marsh observation and education centre.
This project, pillar of the second phase of development, involves the construction of an observation and education centre at the Rivière aux Cerises Marsh, as well as a garage workshop. The building will serve as a marsh interpretation site as well as a reception centre for school, tourist and recreational groups. Its completion will enable LAMRAC to pursue its mission to preserve the marsh, its history, ecosystems and environmental role, while promoting harmonious coexistence through respect and the understanding of marsh flora and fauna, as well as demonstrating and making accessible the centre's green technologies.
"LAMRAC's project to build a marsh observation and education centre in Magog will serve the interests of the city's residents and businesses alike. In supporting this project, we are ensuring that the population enjoys the high quality of life for which our country is famous. Indeed, the Government of Canada is committed to equipping every community with modern facilities to ensure citizens' health and safety. The renewal of public infrastructure is part of a broad action plan that will enable us to thrive and prosper in a healthy environment", explained Minister Paradis.
"By participating in this project, the Government of Quebec is moving forward to ensure the province's municipalities have infrastructure that meets 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 Magog, 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 MNA Pierre Reid.
Completion of this project will necessitate an overall eligible investment of $3,516,467. The governments of Quebec and Canada will each contribute $1,172,156 toward the work, for a total of $2,344,312 in combined government funding, with the organization Les Amis du Marais de la Rivière aux Cerises assuming the remaining third, or $1,172,155, of the project's costs.
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.
For provinces, like Quebec, that have committed all of their funding under the Communities Component, the Government of Canada's Economic Action Plan provides for up to $500 million in additional funding for projects that will be completed by March 31, 2011.
In Quebec, a joint federal-provincial contribution of $232 million will be used to fund 106 infrastructure projects.
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.
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Sources:
Simon Bachand
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development:
Tel.: 613-996-6236
Nicole Ronaldi
Political Advisor
Constituency office of Orford
Tel.: 819-847-3911
