Saint-Colomban, Quebec, April 7, 2010 – The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, today joined David Whissell, Member of the Quebec National Assembly for Argenteuil, acting on behalf of Laurent Lessard, Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy, in announcing that the Municipality of Saint-Colomban will receive $3,649,184 in joint government financial assistance under the Communities Component of the Building Canada Fund – Quebec to upgrade the Côte Saint-Nicholas hill roadway.
The project involves completely rebuilding 2,600 metres of Côte Saint-Nicholas between Linda Street and the Domaine Cloutier, including a review of road geometry and corrections to vertical and horizontal curves to improve safety for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists. A third lane is planned with a view to providing safer access to the residential areas on either side of the hill and to the many driveways in the area. These upgrades will ensure the safety of road users and the fluid flow of vehicular traffic, while promoting the harmonious development of the surrounding residential areas.
“These improvements to Côte Saint-Nicholas will benefit local 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,” stated Minister of State Lebel.
“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 Saint-Colomban, 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 Whissell.
Completion of this project will necessitate an overall eligible investment of $5,473,777. The governments of Quebec and Canada will each contribute $1,824,592 toward the work, for a total of $3,649,184 in combined government funding, with the Municipality of Saint-Colomban assuming the remaining third, or $1,824,593, 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
Mélanie Cayer
Political Attaché
Office of the MNA for Argenteuil
Tel.: 450-562-0785
