Sherbrooke, Quebec, November 21, 2011 – Monique Gagnon-Tremblay, Minister of International Relations, Minister responsible for La Francophonie, Minister responsible for the Estrie region and Member of the National Assembly for Saint-François, on behalf of Pierre Moreau, Minister of Transport, is pleased to announce that the Société de transport de Sherbrooke will receive a combined $1,653,727 under the federal-provincial agreement on the transfer of a portion of federal gasoline tax revenues and the Government of Quebec's contribution. The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, is pleased with the Government of Canada's contribution to this project.
The Société de transport de Sherbrooke will use the financial assistance announced today for the first phase of a new operations support and passenger information system, which will improve communications and the safety of its transit users. The future system will automate real-time vehicle position tracking, identification of differences between bus arrival times and schedules, and forecasting of arrival times at upcoming stops. In addition, it will integrate a passenger information system that will announce and display the next stops and connections on buses. The new system will take an environmentally friendly and safe approach to make it easier for transit users to travel.
"Economic recovery is a priority for the Government of Canada. We are continuing to implement Canada's Economic Action Plan, and our government is contributing to infrastructure projects like the one announced today. These projects are permitting Canadians to work and are establishing the foundation for a bright and prosperous economic future in Canada,"
said Minister Lebel.
"The Government of Quebec is improving the quality of public transit whilst supporting a mode of transportation that contributes to optimized use of the road network and reduced pollution generated by the consumption of halocarbons. We are investing in sustainable development, a winning solution for all,"
said Ms. Monique Gagnon-Tremblay. The funding is in addition to investments planned by the Government of Quebec under various other public transit programs totalling $1.5 billion for 2011–2012.
The federal Gas Tax Fund provides municipalities with an ongoing source of funding for environmentally sustainable municipal infrastructure. Funding is also available for planning projects that contribute to the sustainability of communities and regions.
Through the Gas Tax Fund, the Government of Canada provides a total of roughly $464 million annually for municipal and public transit infrastructure in Quebec. On October 4, 2011, the Government of Canada tabled legislation that will make the Gas Tax Fund a permanent annual investment of $2 billion.
The objective of the federal-provincial agreement on the transfer of a portion of federal gasoline tax revenues signed by Quebec and Canada in 2005 is to provide funding for the renewal of municipal and local infrastructure focussing on sustainable development, in particular in relation to drinking water, wastewater, local roads and public transit. From 2005 to 2010, Quebec municipalities received $1.15 billion from the Gas Tax Fund, in addition to a contribution from the Quebec government amounting to $475.7 million. The disbursement of funds is administered by the Société de financement des infrastructures locales du Québec (SOFIL). The Canada-Quebec agreement, extended in 2009, provides for a further $1.85 billion in Government of Canada support from 2010 to 2014. With the addition of Quebec's contribution of over $907 million, total funding will amount to $2.76 billion.
Contacts
Pierre Floréa
Office of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
613-991-0700
Andrée-Lyne Hallé
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Transport
418-643-6980
Hélène Beauchesne
Communications Advisor
Estrie Division
Department of Transportation
819-820-3280
Andrée-Anne Bégin
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister responsible for the Estrie region
819-565-3667
Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251
Toll-free 1-877-250-7154
