Minister Blaney Participates in the Hôtel-Dieu de Québec Monastery Transfer Ceremony

Québec City, Quebec, February 14, 2013 – The Monastère des Augustines project is now closer to becoming a reality. The Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Member of Parliament for Lévis—Bellechasse today participated in a ceremony marking the transfer of the Hôtel-Dieu de Québec monastery to the Augustines' Cultural Heritage Trust. With this transfer now complete, the project to restore, upgrade and renovate the monastery can begin.

"We are proud to be part of today's ceremony and celebrate the last step before the start of restoration and renovation of the Hôtel-Dieu de Québec monastery," said Minister Blaney. "Our government recognizes the importance of preserving Quebec's rich cultural heritage, and we will continue to focus on creating jobs, economic growth and long-term prosperity in communities across the country."

The monastery will be renovated, while maintaining its authenticity, so that it can be used for multiple purposes. The extensive complex will be a museum dedicated to public display and heritage interpretation of artifacts from all Quebec Augustine monasteries, some dating back as early 1639. It will also include an archive centre, a retreat centre, and accommodation space for both cultural and social use.

The Government of Canada is contributing up to $15 million from the Building Canada Fund – Major Infrastructure Component toward the completion of the museum component of this project. The Government of Quebec is also contributing $15 million and Québec City has also committed $6 million to this $36-million project.

The Building Canada Fund – Major Infrastructure Component provides funding for major infrastructure projects of national and regional significance that contribute to, among other things, economic growth, community recreation, culture and tourism development.

Canada's Economic Action Plan promotes new opportunities for growth, job creation and long-term prosperity. Strengthening infrastructure across the country is an important part of this plan. Thanks to the Government of Canada's leadership and our strong economic and financial fundamentals, the Canadian economy has recovered from the global recession better than most other industrialized countries. Canada has been a leader among G-7 countries throughout the recovery with more than 900,000 net new jobs created since July 2009.

For additional information about federal investments in infrastructure and to stay up-to-date with Web feeds, visit Infrastructure Canada's web site.

Contacts:

Geneviève Sicard
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Transport,
Infrastructure and Communities
613-991-0700

Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251
Toll-free 1-877-250-7154

Date modified:

2013-02-14