Canada-Québec investment of $10,561,102 in Saint-Jacques-de-Leeds for major water infrastructure work

September 04, 2009

Saint-Jacques-de-Leeds, Quebec – The Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of Public Works and Government Services, today joined Laurent Lessard, Quebec’s Ministre des Affaires municipales, des Régions et de l’Occupation du territoire, Ministre responsable de la région de la Chaudière-Appalaches and Member of the National Assembly for Frontenac, in announcing that the Municipality of Saint-Jacques-de-Leeds will receive $10,561,102 in joint government financial assistance under the Communities Component of the Building Canada Fund – Quebec to carry out major water infrastructure work.

The funding will bring the municipality’s drinking water facilities up to standard, replace the drinking water distribution system in its entirety, install a domestic sewer system and build a water treatment plant.

More specifically, the drinking water supply portion of the work calls for the construction of a service building close to the P1 and P-2 wells, installation of a chlorine disinfection system and monitoring equipment, a water intake channel under des Chutes road and highway 271, construction of the R1 storage tank as well as the installation of drinking water distribution pipelines. The wastewater collection and treatment portion of the project involves laying sewer pipes, building two pumping stations with force mains—one near Sunday River and the other near Craig Creek—, construction along des Chutes road of an aerated lagoon treatment plant including, among others things, a service building, a phosphate removal system, a gravity outfall to Craig Creek, and various complementary work. These upgrades will directly benefit 403 local residents.

“Once the work is complete, the drinking water supply system will be better able to meet the needs of  Saint-Jacques-de-Leeds residents. Our communities across the country have to be able to rely on quality public infrastructure to ensure their growth and development and to better face the challenges ahead. That is why the Government of Canada is proud to join forces with the Government of Quebec to provide  concrete support to a wide range of projects dedicated to improving the infrastructure that is essential to the well-being of our communities,” stated Minister Paradis.

“In supporting this major project, the Government of Quebec is moving forward to ensure the province’s municipalities have infrastructure that suits their unique realities while fostering sustainable development, a key element of any modern, wealth-building economy. More specifically, today’s announcement will result in the installation of additional water treatment equipment, thus contributing to the improvement of drinking water, protection of the environment and the renewal of the public infrastructure of Saint-Jacques-de-Leeds from a sustainable development perspective,” added Minister Lessard.

Completion of this project will necessitate an overall eligible investment of $11,550,094. The governments of Quebec and Canada will each contribute $5,280,551 toward the work, for a total of $10,561,102 in combined government funding, while the Municipality of Saint-Jacques-de-Leeds will itself invest $988,992 in the project.

The Communities Component of the Building Canada Fund – Quebec is a cost-sharing initiative aimed at funding infrastructure projects in communities with fewer than 100,000 inhabitants. These communities are thus able to use this assistance to improve infrastructure that is in major need or revitalization, including water treatment plants, water supply systems and cultural and sports centres.