Saint-Damase, Quebec, November 17, 2013 – The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, and Pascal Bérubé, the Minister of Tourism and the Minister responsible for the Bas-Saint-Laurent Region and MNA of Matane-Matapédia, on behalf of Sylvain Gaudreault, Quebec Minister of Municipal Affairs and Regions and Land Occupancy, the Minister of Transport and the MNA for Jonquière, are proud to announce the completion of the work to upgrade the drinking water facilities of the Municipality of Saint-Damase and take the opportunity to emphasize that the project received government assistance of nearly $1 million from the Quebec Municipalities Infrastructure Program (PIQM), federal gas tax funds and the Government of Quebec's contribution (TECQ).
"Nothing is more important to the health and prosperity of Canadian communities than having access to clean, drinkable water. Our Government is proud to have supported this important infrastructure project which will provide safe drinking water to Saint-Damase residents for years to come,"
said Minister Lebel. "Our investments in infrastructure through the federal Gas Tax Fund are key drivers of economic growth and they help ensure that Canadian communities like Saint-Damase remain among the best in the world to live."
"I am pleased to be here today at this event marking the completion of the work to upgrade the water treatment and storage facilities in Saint-Damase. The project is a significant investment in the future of the municipality, which will supply present and future generations with quality drinking water in sufficient quantities, thus promoting the health and well-being of residents. Access to quality drinking water is a fundamental right and an essential service for everyone,"
explained Minister Pascal Bérubé.
The work included the construction of an underground reservoir, a service building housing the equipment required on a lot adjacent to the well, the installation of an ultraviolet disinfection system and a chlorination system, as well as the addition of a water softener and other related work. These improvements will now benefit approximately 230 people.
Under sub-component 1.4 of the PIQM, the maximum eligible cost for this project was $1,346,304. The Government of Quebec contributed $962,607 and the Municipality of Saint-Damase contributed $383,697.
The Municipality of Saint-Damase also received $423,005, of which the Government of Canada's share is $299,239 and that of the Government of Quebec is $123,766, for 2010 to 2014, under the federal Gas Tax Fund and the Government of Quebec's contribution (TECQ). Part of the TECQ allocation was used by the municipality to bring the drinking water treatment plant up to standard.
The Quebec government's contribution to this project is being made under the 2013–2023 Quebec Infrastructure Plan unveiled in April. This 10-year plan will provide for a total investment of $8.1 billion under the municipal infrastructure component. It will have a major economic impact on Quebec, creating or maintaining, on average, nearly 60,000 jobs a year. The plan signals a shift in investment in and management of public infrastructure. This new method will enable the province to assess needs prospectively in keeping with Quebecers' priorities, to accurately measure associated costs and to make informed choices.
The federal Gas Tax Fund provides municipalities across the country with long-term funding to help them build and revitalize local infrastructure. The Government of Canada has made a Gas Tax Fund permanent transfer that will exceed the current amount of $2 billion a year, while offering greater flexibility related to how the money may be used to fund local infrastructure priorities.
The objective of the federal-provincial agreement on the transfer of a portion of federal gas 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. Since the program was launched, Quebec municipalities have received $3 billion from the Government of Canada and $1.4 billion from the Government of Quebec. To date, the Government of Canada has committed over $13 billion in municipal infrastructure in Canada, through the Gas Tax Fund alone.
For more information on federal investments in infrastructure, visit Infrastructure Canada or follow us on Twitter @INFC_eng.
For more information on the Plan québécois des infrastructures, visit Plan québécois des infrastructures (in French only).
For more information on the Canada Economic Action Plan, visit Canada's Economic Action Plan.
Marie-Josée Paquette (Disponible en français)
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and
Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
613-943-1838
Marie-Eve Imonti
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy
514-873-2622
Marcelline Gauthier
Director of the constituency office for the MNA of Matane-Matapédia,
Minister of Tourism and the Minister responsible for the Bas-Saint-Laurent Region
418-562-0371
Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251
Toll free: 1-877-250-7154
Émilie Lord
Communications Branch
Quebec Department of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy
418-691-2015
