2010-2015 Five-Year Capital Plan – Investment of nearly $2.5M in the Nord-du-Québec region
Val-d'Or, April 5, 2011. – The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Minister responsible for the Abitibi-Témiscamingue and Nord-du-Québec regions and Member of the National Assembly for Abitibi-Est, Pierre Corbeil, is pleased to announce today, on behalf of the Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports, Line Beauchamp, that $2 482 540 in funding will be allocated to build housing and expand a school in the Nord-du-Québec region.
The amount allocated is divided as follows:
- Cree School Board: $1 742 084
- Kativik School Board: $740 456
The $1 742 084 allocated to the Cree School Board will enable it to construct 10 houses-four semidetached units in Mistissini and one in Waskaganish, and to enlarge the Badabin Eeyou School in Whapmagoostui. The construction of these semidetached houses will help increase the number of housing units for school board staff who work in the Mistissini and Waskaganish schools or in the board's headquarters in Mistissini. The enlargement of Badabin Eeyou School will add one classroom, two rooms with specialized facilities for elementary and secondary school students with learning difficulties, and a multiuse area. The gymnasium will also undergo renovations.
The $740 456 allocated to the Kativik School Board will enable it to construct a semidetached home in Tasiujaq to more fully meet the housing needs of staff working in Ajagudak School.
"The region welcomes these investments. The expansion of Badabin Eeyou School will enable the Cree School Board to offer quality services to its students and will encourage physical activity in a safe environment better adapted to their needs. In addition, the construction of housing will make it easier to recruit competent staff because it will provide enough good accommodation in the Tasiujaq, Mistissini and Waskaganish communities," Minister Corbeil pointed out.
A total investment of $300 million in Québec
These projects are among the new initiatives funded under the Five-Year Capital Plan for 2010-2015. They are on the list of 51 projects slated to begin this year, as announced today by Minister Beauchamp. A total of $300 million has been earmarked by the Ministère for implementing the approved projects, which consist primarily in building new schools or expanding existing ones.
It should be noted that two major projects will result in improved educational services for students with handicaps, social maladjustments or learning difficulties. One is to construct a specialized school in Terrebonne. The other is to expand an existing school in Québec City. Three projects involve the Kativik and Cree school boards. Two consist in building housing for staff members, while the third consists in building an extension to a school.
"Our decision to reduce the number of students per class at the elementary level in order to encourage student retention and success in school entailed increased investment in the implementation of several construction and expansion projects. We are pleased that this investment brings with it a solution to the increase in enrolment, which, according to our projections, should continue to rise in coming years," the Minister noted.
Source:
Dave Leclerc
Press attaché to the Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports
418-644-0664
