Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF)

$1,875,667 invested in Saint-Gervais to bring water treatment facilities up to standard

Saint-Gervais, October 30, 2006 – Acting on behalf of Nathalie Normandeau, Quebec’s Ministre des Affaires municipales et des Régions, Dominique Vien, Member of the National Assembly for Bellechasse and Parliamentary Assistant to the Ministre de la Culture et des Communications, today joined Steven Blaney, Member of Parliament for Lévis-Bellechasse, acting on behalf of the Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of Labour and Minister of Canada Economic Development, in announcing that the Municipality of Saint-Gervais will receive $937,834 in combined government funding under the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF) to bring its drinking water treatment infrastructure up to standard.  

The project involves expanding the municipality’s existing service building in order to install an ionic exchange water treatment system as well as combined ultraviolet and chlorine disinfection systems. This work will improve drinking water quality for some 3,000 residents.

Completion of this project will require a total investment of $1,875,667, eligible under Component 1 of the MRIF. As such, the Government of Quebec and Government of Canada will each contribute $468,917 toward the upgrades, for $937,834 in combined government funding, while the Municipality of Saint-Gervais will assume $937,833 of the project’s costs.

Saint-Gervais Mayor Jacques Nadeau expressed his delight that this project, considered a priority for the development of the municipality and well-being of local residents, will be carried out.

The Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund is a $390 million cost-sharing initiative of the Government of Quebec and the Government of Canada to help finance municipal infrastructure projects in Quebec. With the financial participation of municipalities, this initiative could result in investments of nearly $576 million for infrastructure work in the province. The objectives of the MRIF are to upgrade community infrastructure, improve the quality of the environment, promote long-term economic growth and enhance citizens’ quality of life.

Implementation of the MRIF in Quebec is the result of a joint agreement signed by the Government of Quebec and the Government of Canada in July 2005. The program, which is in force until March 31, 2010, is administered by Quebec’s Ministère des Affaires municipales et des Régions. Canada Economic Development is responsible for delivering the federal portion of the MRIF on behalf of the Government of Canada.

-30-

Source: 

Christine Poirier Laberge
Communications Advisor
Communications Branch
Ministère des Affaires municipales et des Régions
514-873-3687

Information:

Jonathan Trudeau
Press Secretary
Office of the Ministre des Affaires municipales et des Régions
418-691-2050

Roxane Marchand
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn
Canada Economic Development
819-953-5646
613-816-5094

Nadja Raphaël
Communications Advisor
Canada Economic Development
514-283-2634