Pierreville, Quebec, August 17, 2010 – The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, and Laurent Lessard, Quebec Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy, are pleased to announce that the Municipality of Pierreville has been granted $35,132 in joint government financial assistance under the Communities Component of the Building Canada Fund – Quebec for the installation of an elevator in its community centre.
The project involves putting in an elevator to enable persons with reduced mobility to access the second floor of the municipality's community centre. The hall situated on the building's upper level is used by the Fédération de l'âge d'or du Québec (FADOQ), an association that regularly organizes activities for local seniors.
"Installing an elevator will make it easier for seniors with reduced mobility to take part in the community life of Pierreville. By funding this initiative, we are seeing to it that 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 to ensure citizens' health and safety. The renewal of public infrastructure is part of a broad action plan that will allow us to thrive and prosper in a healthy environment," explained Minister of State Lebel.
"In supporting 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 Pierreville, 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 Lessard.
Completion of this project will necessitate an overall eligible investment of $52,697. The governments of Quebec and Canada will each contribute $17,566 toward the project, for a total of $35,132 in combined government financial assistance, while the Municipality of Pierreville will assume the remaining $17,565 of the 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, this joint federal-provincial funding will amount to $232 million and serve for the realization of 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:
Benoît Fortin
Special Assistant, Communications
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 819-997-3319
Sylvain Bourassa
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy
Tel.: 418-691-2050
