The Governments of Canada and Quebec Provide the Parish of Saint-Étienne-des-Grès with a First Payment of $551,751 from the Transfer of a Portion of the Federal Gas Tax Revenues and the Government of Quebec's Contribution

Saint-Étienne-des-Grès, Quebec, September 21, 2009 – The member of parliament for Lotbinière-Chutes-de-la-Chaudière and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services and to the Minister of National Revenue, Mr. Jacques Gourde, along with the MNA for Maskinongé and Parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy, Mr. Jean-Paul Diamond, on behalf of the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy, Mr. Laurent Lessard, are pleased to announce that the Parish of Saint-Étienne-des-Grès will receive $551,751 under the federal-provincial agreement on the transfer of a portion of federal gasoline tax revenues and the Government of Quebec's contribution. This is the first payment to Saint-Étienne-des-Grès, which will receive a total of $689,690 by the end of 2009 for important infrastructure projects.

The Parish of Saint-Étienne-des-Grès will use the funds to set the standards for the drinking water supply system, as well as repair the pumping stations and wastewater treatment system aerators.

“Canada's economic growth is our Government's main focus,” said MP Gourde. “In Canada's Economic Action Plan, we announced funding of close to $12 billion over two years to boost infrastructure investments. This funding is additional to the money already flowing through the Gas Tax Fund, which is now a $2 billion annual commitment to Canada's municipalities. Through our infrastructure commitments, the Government of Canada supports a stronger economy, creates jobs and allows communities in Quebec and in Canada to be more prosperous.”

“The funding announced today is a reflection of our commitment to improve the quality of life of citizens. This means that the Parish of Saint-Étienne-des-Grès will now be able to rely on stable funding, which will facilitate the planning of the work that needs to be done. These investments are part of the Plan québécois des infrastructures that foresees an investment of $41.8 billion for the 2008-2013 period, of which $3.6 billion will be used to maintain and improve municipal infrastructure. Repairing and modernizing public infrastructure is a priority for the Government of Quebec,” added MNA Diamond.

The goal of the Agreement on the transfer of federal Gas Tax revenues made between Canada and Québec in 2005 is to provide funding for the renewal of municipal and local infrastructure, and specifically for municipal drinking water, wastewater, local roads and public transit infrastructure, within a context of sustainable development. From 2005 to 2010, Quebec will receive $1.151 billion from the Gas Tax Fund, in addition to the Government of Quebec's contribution of $475.7 million. The funds will be administered by the Société de financement des infrastructures locales du Québec (SOFIL).

Moreover, Canada's Economic Action Plan includes the acceleration and expansion of recent historic federal investments in infrastructure with almost $12 billion in new infrastructure stimulus funding over two years.

Sources:

Chris Day
Press Secretary
Office of Canada's Transport and Infrastructure Minister
613-991-0700

Infrastructure Canada
613-948-1148

Sylvain Bourassa
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy
418-691-2050