Governments of Canada and Quebec Join Forces with Quebec City for the Construction of the East-West Road Link

Quebec City, Quebec, August 10, 2009 – Daniel Petit, federal MP for Charlesbourg–Haute-St-Charles; Michel Pigeon, Quebec MNA for the Charlesbourg riding; and Régis Labeaume, Mayor of Quebec City, today announced the construction of the extension that will connect Lepire Street in the Haute-St-Charles borough with Valcartier Boulevard. The governments of Canada and Quebec and the City of Quebec have signed an agreement whereby the cost of the project, estimated at $6 million, would be shared equally among the three levels of government.

The project involves extending Lepire Street for two kilometres, from De la Colline Boulevard to Valcartier Boulevard. The project will improve connections between the northern sector of the area and the Valcartier military base, improve access to Autoroute Henri IV, and reduce the volume of heavy truck traffic. Studies show that 12,000 vehicles would use the new roadway every day.

“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, our Government is taking action to put shovels in the ground and flow funds faster to stimulate the economy and create jobs for Quebecers,” said MP Daniel Petit. “Thanks to the solid relationship between our two governments, we can work together to help Quebec municipalities and give a strong boost to the economy, now and in the future.”

“We are very pleased to contribute to the construction of the east-west extension, a highly anticipated project in the Haute-St-Charles borough. Today we are helping to improve the quality of life of area residents and road users. This investment, along with all our other investments approved in the region in recent months, demonstrates our government's commitment to speeding up the start of infrastructure projects provided for in the Plan québécois des infrastructures, the goal being to maintain and renew our public infrastructure and stimulate the economy,” added MNA Michel Pigeon.

The federal government's contribution to these projects comes from the new $4-billion Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, included in Canada's Economic Action Plan announced in the January 2009 budget. The Government of Canada committed $936 million from the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund for projects in Quebec. The Government of Quebec's contribution is being made under the Plan québécois des infrastructures, which was expanded in January 2009 and now has an envelope of nearly $42 billion to be spent on infrastructure renewal projects in Quebec over the next five years.

For more information, please contact:

Jean Malouin
Political Assistant
Office of the MP for the Charlesbourg–Haute-St-Charles riding
418-624-0022

Anne-Marie Mongrain
Political Assistant
Office of the MNA for the Charlesbourg riding
418-644-9240

Paul-Christian Nolin
Press Secretary
Office of the Mayor of Quebec City
418-641-6434

Jacques Perron
Communications Service
Quebec City
418-641-6210