Roberval, Quebec - 25 June 2014
Thank you everyone.
Thank you for your welcome.
Premier Couillard, Premier of Quebec, and Minister Denis Lebel, my colleague – my thanks again to you and Danielle for the wonderful dinner at your place last evening.
I enjoyed it very much.
Minister Leitão, Mayor Larouche, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, good morning to you all.
It is always a pleasure to come back to the beautiful Lac-Saint-Jean region.
Last year, I had the opportunity to celebrate Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day in Dolbeau so some might say that I’m making my annual pilgrimage to the area.
We are all here today to announce the signing of an agreement of importance to our communities.
An agreement that speaks eloquently of the high level of cooperation between our governments.
Of course, working meetings are somewhat easier when they involve Premier Couillard and Denis meeting for a cup of coffee on a Saturday afternoon.
I am sincerely pleased about the election of a new Quebec government, one focused on objectives we share, those of economic growth and job creation.
Our governments have already had some productive discussions that will significantly advance those joint priorities.
The agreement we are marking here today relates in particular to investment in our infrastructure, a key factor for economic growth.
We already know that the agreement will be beneficial.
Beneficial in that it will help create and maintain jobs, will be advantageous for our economy overall, and will help improve people’s quality of life.
Since taking office, our Government has made unprecedented investments to renew and upgrade our infrastructure.
And over the next 10 years, our Government will be investing some $70 billion in Canadian public infrastructure.
This is a sizeable effort.
In fact, it is by far the largest effort ever made by a federal government.
And we will of course see to it that all parts of the country, including Quebec, receive their fair share of that investment.
Much of this money will come from the Gas Tax Fund.
This transfer to the provinces makes it possible for all municipalities, from the smallest to the largest, to count on long-term, predictable federal funding to renew their infrastructure.
This new agreement, the result of collaboration between the Government of Canada and the new Government of Quebec, will benefit all Quebecers.
Some $5 billion in federal funding will be used by municipalities across Quebec to focus on their priorities.
I would like to point out you that it was our Government that doubled the amount of the Gas Tax Fund, indexed it and made it permanent.
Now Denis has made yet another improvement.
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities specifically asked for more flexibility, and we listened.
The Fund will now serve to finance amateur sports projects, short-line railways and tourist projects, for example.
Today’s agreement demonstrates our Government’s commitment to developing a vibrant and productive ongoing relationship with the new Government of Quebec.
In my opinion, everyone benefits when our governments work together in a frank and effective manner.
We must never forget that while there are several levels of government within the Canadian federation, there is only one level of taxpayer.
Premier Couillard, I would like to thank and commend you for the openness you have demonstrated since you were elected.
I have no doubt that, despite the disagreements that we are bound to have from time to time, we will continue to work together and get results – tangible results that will be good for our economy.
How could it be otherwise with such good members from Roberval?
The federal government, for its part, remains on target to achieve a zero deficit by 2015 and reduce taxes for Canadian families.
Together we can put the economic strength of Canada and all its regions to work to serve the needs and aspirations of this generation and generations to come.
Thank you very much.
