Saint-Damase, Quebec, December 13, 2012 – 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 Pascal Bérubé, Minister for Tourism, Minister responsible for the Bas-Saint-Laurent region and Member of the National Assembly for Matane-Matapédia, on behalf of Sylvain Gaudreault, Quebec Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy, Minister of Transport and Member of the National Assembly for Jonquière, are pleased to announce today that the Parish of Saint-Damase will receive funding for upgrades to drinking water treatment and storage facilities. The project is being funded thanks to a contribution of close to $1 million from the provincial Programme d'infrastructures Québec-Municipalités (PIQM), in addition to a contribution from the federal Gas Tax Fund and a contribution from the Government of Quebec.
"The Government of Canada is proud to support these upgrades for Saint-Damase residents to continue to receive safe, clean drinking water,"
said Minister Lebel. "Our infrastructure investments are an important driver of economic growth and job creation in Quebec, and I am pleased that this project will support the health of local residents, while contributing to the region's economic future."
"I am very pleased with our government's contribution to the Parish of Saint-Damase for the upgrade of their drinking water treatment facilities. Upon completion, this project will result in better quality drinking water, favouring citizens' health and well-being, as well as elevating public services to the community. Our government is working with municipalities in order to guarantee quality public infrastructure for all with a focus on sustainable development,"
declared Minister Pascal Bérubé.
This project in the Parish of Saint-Damase consists of upgrading drinking water treatment and storage facilities. Work includes the construction of an underground reservoir and a service building on site next to the wells, as well as the installation of an ultraviolet disinfection system twinned with a chlorination system, the addition of a water softener, and various other related needs. Ultimately, this work will enable the municipality to offer better quality drinking water, in addition to meeting the standards set by the province outlined in Regulation respecting the quality of drinking water (Règlement sur la qualité de l'eau potable). Close to 230 people will benefit from these improvements.
The completion of this project requires a total eligible investment of $1,346,304, under Component 1.4 of the provincial PIQM. The Government of Quebec is contributing $962,607 and the Parish of Saint-Damase is contributing $383,697.
Between 2010-2014, the Parish of Saint-Damase is receiving $423,005 under the Gas Tax Fund and a contribution from the Government of Quebec. The Government of Canada's share is $299,488 and the Government of Quebec's is $123,517. A portion of Canada's share will be used to make upgrades to the drinking water treatment plant, as will a portion of the Government of Quebec's contribution.
Funding from the Government of Quebec comes from the Plan québécois des instructures, which has a budget of over $44.18 billion for the period of 2011 to 2016.
The provincial Programme d'infrastructures Québec-Municipalités (PIQM) offers government funding to all Quebec municipalities for the undertaking of projects which are essential for the development and well-being of communities, including the repair, replacement or rehabilitation of infrastructure related to aqueducts, sewers and drinking water treatment.
The Gas Tax Fund provides stable, long term funding to Canadian municipalities to help them build and revitalize public infrastructure that achieves positive environmental results. In December 2011, the Government of Canada passed legislation to make this fund a permanent annual transfer of $2 billion. Each year, the province of Quebec receives close to $464 million for municipal public infrastructure and transit infrastructure.
The objective of the federal-provincial agreement on the transfer of a portion of federal gasoline tax revenues signed by Quebec and Canada is to provide funding for the renewal of municipal and local infrastructure focusing 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 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. To date, the Government of Canada has invested over $10 billion in Canada's municipal infrastructure through the Gas Tax Fund alone.
Additional information:
For additional information about investments in infrastructure and to stay up-to-date with Web feeds, visit Infrastructure Canada's website.
For additional information on Quebec's infrastructure plan, visit the Plan québécois des infrastructures website. (available only in French)
For further information about the Government of Canada's Economic Action Plan, visit the Economic Action Plan website.
Contacts:
Geneviève Sicard
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
613-991-0700
Marie-Eve Imonti
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy
514-873-2622
Caroline St-Pierre
Communications Directorate
Quebec Department of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy
418-691-2015
Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251
Toll free 1-877-250-7154
