Saint-André, Quebec, January 16, 2013 – 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 municipality of Saint-André will receive funding for the installation of a drinking water treatment system.
"The installation of a treatment system will allow Saint-André residents to continue to receive safe, clean drinking water for years to come,"
said Minister Lebel. "The Government of Canada is proud to invest in local infrastructure improvements as we focus on creating jobs, growth and long-term prosperity in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region and across Canada."
"I am very pleased with our government's contribution to the municipality of Saint-André for the work to be done on 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 consists of installing a treatment system to ensure the disinfection of drinking water through chlorination at the municipality's treatment facilities. Work includes constructing a contact chamber for disinfection, upgrading the sodium hypochlorite dosing system and other control equipment, installing an aluminum sulphate preparation and dosing system, adding chlorine and nitrogen analysers, constructing a new service building to house the new equipment, and various other project-related needs. Ultimately, this work will enable the municipality to offer better quality drinking water to close to 335 people.
The completion of this project requires a total eligible investment of $309,970, under Component 1.4 of the provincial Programme d'infrastructures Québec-Municipalités (PIQM). The Government of Quebec and the municipality of Saint-André are each contributing $154,985.
Between 2010 and 2014, the municipality of Saint-André is receiving $457,634 under the federal Gas Tax Fund and a contribution from the Government of Quebec. The Government of Canada's share is $324,005 and the Government of Quebec's is $133,629. A portion of Canada's share will be used to perform the required work at the municipality's water treatment facilities, as will a portion of the Government of Quebec's contribution.
Note that under the guidelines established by the Department of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy, project-related work must be completed by December 31, 2013.
Funding from the Government of Quebec comes from the Plan québécois des infrastructures, 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. More specifically, the Fund supports municipal infrastructure projects that contribute to cleaner air, water and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In December 2011, the Government of Canada passed legislation to make this fund a permanent annual transfer of $2 billion across the country. Each year, the province of Quebec receives a total of 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, such as drinking water, wastewater, community energy systems, solid waste management, local roads and public transit. Between 2005 and 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.
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 theEconomic Action Plan website.
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
Infrastructure Canada
613 960-9251
Toll free 1-877-250-7154
Caroline St-Pierre
Communications Directorate
Quebec Department of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy
418 691-2015
Nancy Gagné
Regional Political Advisor
Office of the Minister for Tourism and Minister responsible for the Bas-Saint-Laurent region
418 509-3653
