Canada and Quebec support improvements to two libraries in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region

SAINTE-PAULE, QC, Nov. 22, 2018 /CNW/ - The governments of Canada and Quebec recognize that cultural infrastructure plays a key role in developing dynamic prosperous communities.

The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities; Rémi Massé, Member of Parliament for Avignon-La Mitis-Matane-Matapédia; and Louis Lemieux, Member of the National Assembly for Saint-Jean and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Culture and Communications (Communications), today announced that the governments of Canada and Quebec are each investing over $112,000 to relocate the Sainte-Paule municipal library to the community centre. The municipality will also invest over $112,000 in the project, for a total investment of nearly $340,000.

The governments of Canada and Quebec will also invest over $54,000 each to relocate the municipal library in the Luceville sector of Sainte-Luce to a former church that has been converted to a community centre. The municipality will also invest over $54,000 for a total government-municipal investment of nearly $165,000.

This financial support comes from the New Building Canada Fund, Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component—Small Communities Fund. Once completed, the work will improve the region's cultural opportunities, and make the libraries more accessible to the public.

Quotes

"I am very pleased to announce this contribution by the Government of Canada, which will help modernize and expand the Sainte-Paule and Sainte-Luce libraries. Investing in cultural infrastructure provides people with places to come together and learn that are adapted to their needs, which helps build strong inclusive communities."

The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

"Thanks to this work, the Sainte-Paule and Sainte-Luce libraries will be able to increase the quality and quantity of their services to better fulfil their educational and social mandates. Users will benefit from cultural centres where readers of all ages can make wonderful discoveries."

Rémi Massé, Member of Parliament for Avignon-La Mitis-Matane-Matapédia

"Our government is investing in communities to foster the development of high-quality infrastructure and provide better access to culture throughout Quebec. I am very pleased with these two relocation projects, which will provide the citizens of Sainte-Paule and Sainte-Luce with libraries that are more accessible, more welcoming and better adapted to their needs."

Louis Lemieux, MNA for Saint-Jean and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Culture and Communications (communications)

"In addition to upgrading the municipal building and relocating the library to a multimedia space, these investments will add a human dimension to our library. People from the municipality will be able to go to the library to discover, research, take part in activities, learn and make new connections over coffee or in the children's reading corner."

Pierre Dugré, Mayor of Sainte-Paule

"This financial assistance will enable us to relocate the Luceville sector library. Our population will have top-quality cultural equipment at its disposal, helping everyone grow."

Maïté Blanchette Vézina, Mayor of Sainte-Luce

Quick Facts

• The Small Communities Fund is a federal‒provincial program coordinated by Infrastructure Canada in partnership with the provinces and territories. In Quebec, the Fund is administered by the Quebec Department of Municipal Affairs and Housing. The goal of this program is to provide financial support to Canadian municipalities with fewer than 100,000 residents to develop infrastructure that enhances their cultural, sports, recreational and tourism assets or safeguards public assets.
• Through the Investing in Canada infrastructure plan, the Government of Canada will invest more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada's rural and northern communities. $25.3 billion of this funding will support social infrastructure in Canadian communities.
• Quebec's 2018-2028 Infrastructure Plan calls for nearly $7.3 billion in investments in municipal infrastructure under the Quebec Department of Municipal Affairs and Housing. When combined with contributions from the Government of Canada and municipalities, this means over $14.3 billion will be invested in municipal infrastructure in Quebec over this period.

Associated Links

Investing in Canada: Canada's Long-Term Infrastructure Plan: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/icp-publication-pic-eng.html

Investing in Canada Plan Project Map: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/map

Federal investments in infrastructure projects in Quebec: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/map-carte/index-eng.html

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SOURCE Infrastructure Canada

For further information: Contacts, Ann-Clara Vaillancourt, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, Tel.: [phone], Email: [e-mail]; Brigitte Roussy, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Culture and Communications, and Minister Responsible for the French Language, Tel.: [phone]; For information: Media Relations, Infrastructure Canada, Tel.: [phone], Toll free: 1-877-250-7154, Email: [e-mail]; Media Relations Team, Communications Branch, Quebec Department of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Tel.: [phone], ext. 3746

Related Links

http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/