Rivière-du-Loup, Quebec, September 11, 2011 – The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, and Jean D’Amour, Member of the Quebec National Assembly for Rivière-du-Loup and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Natural Resources and Wildlife, acting on behalf of Laurent Lessard, Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy, took the opportunity of today’s official inauguration of the new urban park in downtown Rivière-du-Loup to recall the $3,066,126 in joint government funding awarded to the City to develop this park, under the Communities Componentof the Building Canada Fund – Quebec.
Minister Lebel, who was unable to attend the official ceremony, hailed the completion of this important project. “The development of an urban park in Rivière-du-Loup’s downtown core will benefit the city’s residents and businesses alike. Our participation in this project assures us that the population will enjoy the high quality of life for which our country is famous,” he commented, adding that the Government of Canada is committed to equipping every community with modern facilities to ensure citizens’ health and safety.
“The development of this urban park now offers the population a natural space at the heart of the city in which to relax, practice various sports or take part in social and cultural events right in the city’s downtown core. The government is moving forward to ensure the province’s municipalities have infrastructure that meets their unique realities while fostering sustainable development. In this way, we are leaving the City of Rivière-du-Loup a legacy of quality infrastructure with which to face the challenges of the future,” added MNA Jean D’Amour.
This project involved developing an urban park in the city’s downtown core, on land that had been vacant for years, at the corner of Saint-Pierre and Desjardins Streets. Summarily, the project created two kilometres of pathways for pedestrians and inline skaters, three surfaces for sports activities and a natural amphitheatre. These new facilities will now benefit not only the local and regional population but also the many tourists to the area.
Completion of this project necessitated an overall eligible investment of $4,599,188. The governments of Quebec and Canada each contributed $1,533,063 toward the work, for a total of $3,066,126 in combined government funding, with the City of Rivière-du-Loup assuming the remaining $1,533,062 of the project’s costs.
The Communities Componentof 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.
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:
Pierre Floréa
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 514-496-1282
E-mail: pierre.florea@tc.gc.ca
Julie Boivin
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy
Tel.: 418-691-2050
Caroline St-Pierre
Communications Branch
Department of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy
Tel.: 418-691-2015
Chantal Dolan
Press Secretary to the
MNA for Rivière-du-Loup and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Natural Resources and Wildlife
Tel.: 418-868-0822
