Québec, Quebec, June 22, 2011 – Acting on behalf of Nathalie Normandeau, Deputy Premier of Quebec, Minister of Natural Resources and Wildlife and Minister responsible for the Northern Plan, Jean D’Amour, Member of the National Assembly for Rivière-du-Loup, participated in the inauguration of one of three wooden arch bridges built in Montmorency forest through the Programme de maintien de l’accessibilité aux terres du domaine de l’État à vocations faunique et multiressource, a program designed to maintain access to wildlife and multi-resource public lands in Quebec and funded by Canada Economic Development and the Quebec Department of Natural Resources and Wildlife. The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, though unable to attend the event, expressed his delight that this project has now been completed.
“The Government of Canada considers it important to continue to ensure access to public lands. It is crucial to resource-based economic development. And we want to give new life to works that, once restored, will encourage outdoor activities,” said Minister Lebel.
“The investment has been maximized by the use of structural wood in the bridge’s construction. As a result, besides being architecturally aesthetic, the bridge has significant value added. This project is a precursor for all forest roads in Quebec and I hope this experience will be repeated. Forestry workers and communities are sure to benefit,” stated MNA D’Amour.
Built at a cost of $1,545,541, the new bridge illustrates Quebec know-how in wood engineering and is a great example of the environmentally-sound and sustainable use of wood according to government guidelines. Moreover, by planting trees in Montmorency forest to offset greenhouse gas emissions generated during the work, Université Laval has made this project Canada’s first carbon neutral bridge construction site.
This two-year program, introduced as part of a Canada-Quebec Agreement to maintain access to wildlife and multi-resource territories on Quebec public lands, is managed by the Conférence régionale des élus de la Capitale-Nationale. The program’s primary objective has been to ensure ready access to public lands used for recreational and economic activities.
“More specifically, the program was aimed at repairing or replacing bridges and culverts on roads which, though no longer used by the forestry industry, continue to be used by hunters, fishers, resort travellers and tourists. This project will help promote the use of wood to decision-makers, engineers and architects for large-scale building projects, a measure included in our stratégie d’utilisation du bois dans la construction au Québec, launched in 2008. Moreover, since the bridge is made of certified Quebec wood, it makes a concrete contribution to the fight against climate change. Our government fully supports Université Laval’s initiative,” commented Nathalie Normandeau, Minister of Natural Resources and Wildlife and Serge Simard, Minister for Natural Resources and Wildlife.
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Sources :
Marie-France Boulay
Press Secretary
Office of the Deputy Premier of Quebec, Minister of Natural Resources and Wildlife and Minister responsible for the Northern Plan
Tel.: 418-643-7295
Pierre-Olivier Lussier
Office of the Minister for Natural Resources and Wildlife
Tel.: 418-643-7295
Benoît Fortin
Special Assistant, Communications
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 819-997-3319
E-mail: benoit.fortin@dec-ced.gc.ca
