Contrecoeur, Quebec, July 21, 2010 – The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, today joined Nicole Ménard, Member of the National Assembly for Laporte, Quebec Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Montérégie region, acting on behalf of Laurent Lessard, Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy, in announcing that the City of Contrecoeur will receive $1,362,000 in combined government financial assistance under the Communities Component of the Building Canada Fund – Quebec for major infrastructure works.
The project in the City of Contrecoeur involves splitting a sewer system, upgrading two pumping stations and bringing the municipal wastewater treatment plant up to standard. The work will mainly consist of replacing the combined sewer system under Des Érables and Saint-Antoine streets with a separate sewer system and laying a water supply main. The PP-3 and PP-5 pumping stations will also be upgraded with the installation of a new pumping system to boost capacity and reduce overflows, the sewage treatment plant will be modified and various complementary works will be carried out. More than 5,800 people will benefit from these improvements.
“This investment in Contrecoeur's sanitation infrastructure works will serve the interests of the municipality’s residents and businesses alike. In supporting this initiative, we are ensuring the population continues to enjoy 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 and equipment 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 Lebel.
“In helping fund these infrastructure works in Contrecoeur, 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 Contrecoeur, 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 Ménard.
Completion of this project will necessitate an overall eligible investment of $2,043,000. The governments of Quebec and Canada will each contribute $681,000 toward the work, for a total of $1,362,000 in combined government funding, while the City of Contrecoeur will assume the remaining third, or $681,000, 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.
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.
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Sources:
Simon Bachand
Special Assistant, Communications
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 613-996-6236
André Poirier
Policy Advisor
Office of the Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Montérégie region
Tel.: 450-672-1885
