Saint-Félix-d'Otis, Quebec, May 10, 2010 – The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, today joined Serge Simard, Quebec's Minister for Natural Resources and Wildlife, Minister responsible for the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean Region and Member of the National Assembly for Dubuc, acting on behalf of Laurent Lessard, Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy, in announcing that the Municipality of Saint-Félix-d'Otis will receive $1,821,294 in joint government financial assistance under the Communities Component of the Building Canada Fund – Quebec to upgrade Chemin du Lac Goth and Vieux-Chemin roads.
The project will rehabilitate two access roads over a distance of about 9.3 kilometres. More specifically, the work includes ditching and road shaping, the installation of signage and guardrails and roadway surfacing. These upgrades have become necessary in order to both consolidate the existing residential sectors and further the development of the historic Site de la Nouvelle-France. The Vieux-Chemin provides access to this major Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean tourist attraction, which draws 35,000 visitors each year.
"The project to rebuild Chemin du Lac Goth and Vieux-Chemin roads in Saint-Félix-d'Otis will serve the interests of local residents and businesses alike. In supporting this initiative, we are seeing to it 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," said 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-Félix-d'Otis, 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 Serge Simard.
Completion of this project will necessitate an overall eligible investment of $2,731,941. The governments of Quebec and Canada will each contribute $910,647 toward the work, for a total of $1,821,294 in combined government funding, while the Municipality of Saint-Félix-d'Otis will assume the remaining third, or $910,647, 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
Danny Desbiens
Communications Advisor
Riding office of the MNA for Dubuc, Minister for Natural Resources and Wildlife and Minister responsible for the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean
and Côte-Nord Regions
Tel.: 418-544-8106
