Saint-Charles-de-Bellechasse, Quebec, July 29, 2010 – Dominique Vien, Member of the Quebec National Assembly for Bellechasse and Minister of Government Services, acting on behalf of Laurent Lessard, Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy and Minister responsible for the Chaudière-Appalaches region, today joined Steven Blaney, Member of Parliament for Lévis-Bellechasse, acting on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, in announcing that the Municipality of Saint-Charles-de-Bellechasse will receive $3,416,328 in combined government financial assistance under the Communities Component of the Building Canada Fund – Quebec to bring its drinking water facilities up to standard.
The Municipality of Saint-Charles-de-Bellechasse currently gets its water supply from two distinct sources, namely the Labrecque spring (main supply source) and the Blouin spring (auxiliary supply source). These catchment sources no longer satisfy existing drinking water standards. In order to bring its supply system into compliance with the province’s water quality regulations, the municipality has decided to permanently decommission the Blouin spring (surface water) and replace it with two new wells.
The complementary works under this project call for the construction of both a water treatment plant with a continuously regenerating greensand filtration system and an ultraviolet chlorine disinfection system, along with the execution of various other related works. The construction of a new drinking water reservoir and service building and the installation of new pumping equipment to ensure distribution, instrumentation, monitoring and range finding operations are also planned.
“These improvements will ensure the citizens of Saint-Charles-de-Bellechasse an adequate supply of drinking water. In supporting this project, the Government of Quebec is seeing to it that the province’s municipalities have infrastructure that meets their unique realities while fostering sustainable development. In so doing, we are leaving the municipality a legacy of quality infrastructure with which to face the challenges of the future,” added Minister Vien.
“The project to bring Saint-Charles-de-Bellechasse’s drinking water supply facilities up to standard will serve the interests of the municipality’s residents and businesses. In funding 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 Steven Blaney.
Completion of this project will necessitate an overall eligible investment of $5,124,489. The governments of Quebec and Canada will each contribute $1,708,164 toward the work, for a total of $3,416,328 in combined government funding, while the Municipality of Saint-Charles-de-Bellechasse will assume the remaining third 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.
To find out more about the Building Canada Fund – Quebec or the process for submitting a funding application, visit www.buildingcanada-chantierscanada.gc.ca and www.mamrot.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
Sylvain Bourassa
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy
Tel.: 418-691-2050
Alexandre Noël
Riding Communications Officer
Office of the Minister of Government Services
Tel.: 418-528-0177
