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 |