ROUYN-NORANDA, QC, July 10, 2017 /CNW/ - The Governments of Canada and Quebec recognize the importance of investing in local airports, which connect rural communities to the country's major centres and provide safe and effective essential services for passengers. These investments help meet the needs of growing communities, create jobs, and make the regional economy more productive.
The Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport, and Luc Blanchette, Quebec's Minister of Forests, Wildlife and Parks and Minister Responsible for the Abitibi-Témiscamingue Region and the Nord-du-Québec Region, today announced that the Governments of Canada and Quebec will invest nearly $24.8 million into the expansion and upgrading of the Rouyn-Noranda Airport. This assistance comes from the New Building Canada Fund, Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component—Small Communities Fund. The City of Rouyn-Noranda will also provide nearly $12.4 million, bringing the total government and municipal investment to nearly $37.2 million.
The project primarily involves the construction of a new two-floor terminal, tripling the surface area of the current building. Related work includes expanding the parking lot, redeveloping the access lanes, and refurbishing the airport's water and sewer systems and electric power plant.
When finished, this project will help address an anticipated increase in the number of passengers using this major regional airport. The additional space will improve the efficiency and capacity of the airport.
Quotes
"We are making investments that have an immediate positive effect on people's quality of life, while laying solid foundations for economic growth and creating good middle-class jobs. Renewing public infrastructure is key to creating strong communities, which is why I'm very pleased to announce this financial assistance that will help expand the Rouyn-Noranda Airport, one of Quebec's largest regional airports."
The Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport, on behalf of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities
"The Rouyn-Noranda Airport is already one of the busiest regional airports in Quebec. This essential investment in this infrastructure will help to boost the economic development of our region. The positive outcome that we are announcing today demonstrates the importance that the Government of Quebec places on regional air transportation."
Luc Blanchette, Minister of Forests, Wildlife and Parks and Minister Responsible for the Abitibi-Témiscamingue Region and the Nord-du-Québec Region, on behalf of Laurent Lessard, Minister of Transport, Sustainable Mobility and Transport Electrification.
"This is much more than just a terminal expansion project! This support from both levels of government demonstrates their recognition of the importance of the Rouyn-Noranda Regional Airport, which remains first in its category for passenger movements throughout Québec with more than 150,000 users per year."
Mario Provencher, Mayor of Rouyn-Noranda
Quick facts
- The Small Communities Fund (SCF) is a joint federal-provincial program coordinated by Infrastructure Canada, in partnership with the provinces and territories. In Quebec, the Fund is managed by the Department of Municipal Affairs and Land Occupancy. The purpose of this program is to provide financial support to Canadian municipalities with fewer than 100,000 residents so that they can maintain and improve airport infrastructure, among other things.
- The Government of Canada will invest more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit, green and social infrastructure, transportation infrastructure that supports trade, and Canada's rural and northern communities
- The 2017-2027 Quebec Infrastructure Plan calls for $7 billion in investments in municipal infrastructure under the Quebec Department of Municipal Affairs and Land Occupancy. When combined with contributions from the Government of Canada and municipalities, this means $15 billion will be invested in municipal infrastructure in Quebec over the next 10 years.
Related links
For more information about the Government of Canada's $180 billion-plus infrastructure plan in Budget 2017: http://www.budget.gc.ca/2017/docs/plan/chap-02-en.html
Federal investments in Quebec infrastructure projects: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/map-carte/index-eng.html
New Building Canada Plan: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/nbcp-npcc-eng.html
New Building Canada Fund, Small Communities Fund (SCF): http://www.mamot.gouv.qc.ca/infrastructures/programmes-daide-financiere/nouveau-fonds-chantiers-canada-quebec-volet-fonds-des-petites-collectivites-fpc/
2017-2027 Quebec Infrastructure Plan: https://www.tresor.gouv.qc.ca/fileadmin/PDF/budget_depenses/17-18/quebecPublicInfrastructure.pdf
SOURCE Infrastructure Canada
Contacts: Brook Simpson, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, 613-219-0149; Gabrielle Fallu, Press Secretary for the Minister of Forests, Wildlife and Parks and Minister Responsible for the Abitibi-Témiscamingue Region and the Nord-du-Québec Region, 418 643-7295; For information: Infrastructure Canada, 613 960-9251, Toll-free: 1 877-250-7154, Email: [email protected], Twitter: @INFC_eng, Website: Infrastructure Canada; Pierre-Luc Lévesque, Communications Directorate,Department of Municipal Affairs and Land Occupancy and Department of Public Security, 418 646-6777, ext. 3746
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