A Canada-Quebec partnership to benefit déléage municipality

October 02, 2009

Déléage – The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister responsible for the Outaouais region and MP for Pontiac, Lawrence Cannon, and the member of the National Assembly for Gatineau and Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, Ms. Stéphanie Vallée, are pleased to announce grants of $389 550 for the municipality of Déléage, through the federal-provincial agreement pertaining to the pipeline renewal program, le Programme de renouvellement des conduites (PRECO). This contribution will enable the completion of important infrastructure work in Déléage.

"Through the federal contribution to PRECO, the Government of Canada will create jobs and boost the economy," said Minister Cannon. “Our government is investing $936 million for Quebec projects from the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, of which $350 million will be for PRECO to revitalize water and wastewater pipelines throughout Quebec."

"Thanks to PRECO, the municipality of Déléage will be able to improve its water distribution and wastewater collection systems, which will ensure the quality of life of their citizens. These major investments will also retain many jobs in the Haute-Gatineau region, as well as ensure the sustainable development of a prosperous Quebec,” added Stéphanie Vallée, MNA for Gatineau.

This announcement comes nearly two months after the priority PRECO announcement on March 26, 2009, by the Prime Minister of Canada, the Right Honourable Stephen Harper, and the Premier of Quebec, Mr. Jean Charest, which demonstrates the speed with which the federal and provincial governments are implementing this program. The launch of PRECO on April 6, 2009, is possible due to a joint contribution from Canada and Quebec of approximately $700 million. With municipal contributions, more than $1 billion will be available for projects that will be completed in the next two years.

PRECO is a simple and innovative program that will enable Quebec municipalities to conduct repairs or replace water and wastewater pipes. Investment priorities will be determined by the municipalities based on an action plan that they will have submitted to the Quebec Ministry of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy. The municipalities themselves are responsible for choosing between the repair or replacement of the pipes, which provides them more autonomy. The underground pipeline network for all Quebec municipalities stretches more than 80,000 km at an estimated value of over $60 billion.

The Government of Canada's contribution to PRECO comes from the new $4 billion Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, which is part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan announced in the January 2009 Budget. The federal government set aside up to $350 million of this fund for projects approved through PRECO.

The $350-million contribution from the Government of Quebec is part of the Quebec infrastructure plan, le Plan Québécois des infrastructures, which was expanded in January 2009 and now includes an investment of almost $42 billion for renewing existing infrastructure throughout Quebec over the next five years.