Saint-Apollinaire, Quebec - 27 March 2015
Canada’s prosperity and quality of life depend on a vast network of public infrastructure – from roads and highways, to bridges, transit systems, water and wastewater infrastructure, ports, airports and recreational and cultural facilities. Investments in Canada’s public infrastructure improve productivity and quality of life, and create jobs, growth and long-term prosperity from coast to coast to coast.
To this end, on March 27, 2015, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced up to $122,119,000 in new infrastructure support for a total of 42 projects in Quebec, including federally-owned small craft harbours and regional airports, as well as other federal assets and supported initiatives.
Small craft harbours support the commercial fishing industry. Nearly 90 per cent of all commercial fish harvesters in Canada use small craft harbour facilities. The support being announced today will keep harbours that are critical to Quebec’s fishing industry open and in good repair while improving safety and working conditions for Quebec fishermen. It will also generate construction jobs. Harbour improvement projects are undertaken in cooperation with the local harbour authorities that manage and operate facilities for local users.
Project: Repair and refurbishing of federally-owned small harbours
Cost: $62.6 million
Timeframe: 2015-2017
Number of harbours: 34
Project Description: Maintenance, repair and construction work will be undertaken at the following small harbours:
Activities will include maintenance, repair or construction of wharves, breakwaters or service areas, as well as maintenance dredging of channels or basins used by commercial fishermen.
Regional Airports
The Government of Canada owns and operates 18 regional airports across the country, 11 of which are in Quebec. Transport Canada funds the operation and maintenance of these airports, recognizing the important role they play in their communities. The improvements to these facilities will create construction jobs, facilitate the flow of goods and services in the province, and provide Quebecers with more efficient transportation to various parts of the country and the world
Project: Improving federally-owned and operated regional airports
Cost: Approximately $23 million
Timeframe: 2014-2017
Number of airports: 3
Project Description: A variety of repairs and upgrades will be made at the Schefferville, Îles-de-la-Madeleine and Lourdes-de-Blanc-Sablon airports. Activities will include air terminal refurbishment, visual aids replacement and aircraft movement area rehabilitation.
Federal Assets and Other Supported Initiatives
The Government of Canada will provide up to $36,519,000 to maintain, upgrade and construct the following federal assets and other supported initiatives in Quebec:
Project: Lévis Forts National Historic Site, near QuébecCity
Cost: $5,534,000
Timeframe: 2016-2018
Project Description: Investment to restore and reseal the perimeter walls of Fort No. 1. Built on the south shore of the Saint Lawrence River by the British between 1865 and 1872, the Lévis Forts were designed to protect Québec against American invasion following the Civil War. Last in a series of three detached forts, Parks Canada’s Fort No. 1 attests to technological innovations that were remarkable for their time.
Project: Construction of Agricultural Facilities at Université Laval, near QuébecCity
Cost: $3,500,000
Timeframe: 2015-2017
Project Description: The project would support the construction of agricultural facilities at Université Laval’s Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures agronomic station near QuébecCity. Facilities include a new field lab, a pesticide storage depot, and a machinery garage to be shared by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and the university. This project will permit the consolidation of AAFC’s field operations at the Université Laval agronomic station.
Project: Soils and Crop Research and Development Centre, Québec City3
Cost: $4,500,000
Timeframe: 2015-2017
Project Description: This project will support the reconstruction of the 40-year old greenhouses at the facility. The new greenhouses will improve conditions for experiments, enhance energy efficiency and reduce operating costs.
Project: Repairs to the Citadelle of Québec, QuébecCity
Cost: The value of this project is estimated at $13.9 million, including a contingency of 15 per cent. Due to the nature of heritage building work, an additional contingency of 15 per cent is suggested for estimated total project value of up to $15,985,000.
Timeframe: 2015-2017
Project Description: This project will support repairs to the historic Citadelle of Québec, including masonry restoration, roof repairs and water proofing of walls. The current fortress was constructed from 1820 to 1832. It is the largest British fortress in North America and an integral part of the Québec fortifications. The Citadelle remains an active garrison and since 1920 has been home to the Royal 22e Régiment, the Canadian Armed Forces’ sole French-language regular force infantry regiment. The Citadelle was recognized as a National Historic Site of Canada in 1980.
Project: Laboratory Upgrades to the Laurentian Forestry Centre, Sainte-Foy
Cost: $7,000,000
Timeframe: 2015-2017
Project Description: The project will comprise such things as laboratory upgrades, new ventilation and emergency power systems, along with a roof replacement. These upgrades will help to support a wide array of forestry research projects ranging from combatting invasive forest insect infestations, to extracting the maximum value from fire damaged trees.
The upgrading of these five facilities will promote education, agricultural and forestry development and the preservation of important cultural heritage in the province. These initiatives will generate construction employment, help young Quebecers learn the skills necessary to secure good jobs, help Quebec farmers produce better crops and preserve Quebec’s natural and cultural heritage for current and future generations.
Today’s announcement is one of many initiatives that our Government has taken to improve infrastructure in Quebec. Since 2006, investments of over $3.38 billion under the Building Canada Fund, the Provincial-Territorial Base Fund, the Green Infrastructure Fund and the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund have helped the Government of Quebec and its municipalities make infrastructure improvements for the benefit of all Quebecers. Municipalities in Quebec have also benefited from approximately $3.33 billion provided to the province through the federal Gas Tax Fund. Combined with investments under other federal infrastructure programs, Quebec has benefited from over $7.82 billion toward infrastructure improvements across the province. These initiatives have generated thousands of new jobs across the province and will provide economic benefits to Quebec for years to come.
