Governments of Canada and Quebec Provide the Municipality of Saint-Henri-de-Taillon with a First Payment of $242,009 from the Transfer of a Portion of Federal Gas Tax Revenues and Contribution from the Government of Quebec

Saint-Henri-de-Taillon, Quebec, January 28, 2010 – The Honorable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, along with the Minister for Natural Resources and Wildlife and Minister responsible for the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region, Mr. Serge Simard, on behalf of the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy, Mr. Laurent Lessard, are pleased to announce that the Municipality of Saint-Henri-de-Taillon will receive $242,009 under the federal-provincial agreement on the transfer of a portion of federal Gas Tax revenues and the Government of Quebec’s contribution. This is the first payment to Saint-Henri-de-Taillon, which will receive a total of $302,511 for important infrastructure projects.

The Municipality of Saint-Henri-de-Taillon will use these funds to replace drinking water pipes under Rang 5.

“Canada’s economic stimulus is at the heart of our Government’s focus,” said Minister Lebel. “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, promotes job creation, and contributes to the prosperity of communities across Quebec and Canada.”

“The funding announced today in Saint-Henri-de-Taillon demonstrates our desire to contribute to the well-being of citizens. This means that the Municipality will now be able to rely on stable funding, which will facilitate the planning of infrastructure work to be undertaken. These investments are part of the Quebec infrastructure plan, le 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 upgrade municipal infrastructure. Repairing and modernizing infrastructure is a priority for the Government of Quebec,” added Minister Simard.

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 within a context of sustainable development, particularly with respect to water, wastewater, local roads and public transit. Between 2005 and 2010, Quebec will receive $1.151 billion from the Gas Tax Fund, in addition to the Government of Quebec contribution of $475.7 million. The disbursement of funds will be administered by the Société de financement des infrastructures locales du Québec (SOFIL).

In addition, 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.

Contacts:

Frédérik Boisvert
Political Advisor
Office of Canada’s Transport and Infrastructure Minister
613-991-0700

Jack Roy
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister for Natural Resources and Wildlife and Minister responsible for the Saguenay–Lac Saint Jean and Côte-Nord regions
418-643-7295

Infrastructure Canada
613-948-1148

Johanne Levesque
Communications Advisor
Communications Directorate
Ministry of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy
514-873-6910