Government of Canada Supports Jobs and Growth on Both Sides of the Ottawa River

QUYON, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - May 25, 2012) - The Honourable Gordon O'Connor, MP for Carleton-Mississippi Mills, Minister of State and Chief Government Whip, today announced funding of more than $1 million to help improve the Quyon/Mohr's Landing ferry crossing for residents, businesses and tourists in western Quebec and eastern Ontario.

The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec (Canada Economic Development) and the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), who were unable to attend the announcement, are pleased to see this project get underway.

"Our government's first priority remains the economy: creating jobs, economic growth and long-term prosperity," said Minister of State O'Connor. "I'm pleased that our funding will do just that by helping improve ferry service at this busy Ottawa River crossing, increasing business activity and tourism in the surrounding Ontario and Quebec communities."

Canada Economic Development is providing up to $600,000 and FedDev Ontario is providing up to $488,827 for the construction of new ferry docking terminals at Quyon, Quebec and Mohr's Landing, Ontario, approximately 50 kilometres west of Ottawa.

The ferry dock improvements are part of a larger project that also includes replacing two existing propeller-driven ferries with a new larger drive-on and drive-off cable ferry. The new ferry will be able to carry more than 20 vehicles, including tractor trailers, large recreation vehicles and farm equipment. The costs of the new ferry are being covered by Quyon Ferry Inc, as well as the Quebec Ministry of Transportation.

The improvements are expected to generate an increase in traffic and support tourism in the region, especially to Fitzroy Provincial Park. Businesses and residents will also save time and money as the ferry provides a faster alternative compared to a three hour round trip by land.

"Residents and business owners in eastern Ontario and western Quebec are eagerly awaiting the introduction of the new cable ferry. The new ferry will not only provide increased capacity and faster crossing times, but the electrical propulsion system will provide a quiet and reliable movement of people, vehicles and material," said Dwight Eastman, the Chairperson of the Mohr's Landing and Quyon Port Authority.

The financial assistance from Canada Economic Development has been granted through the Economic Development Initiative provided for under the Roadmap for Canada's Linguistic Duality 2008-2013. With its $10.2 million budget over five years, this initiative seeks to foster the economic development of official-language minority communities through a range of activities including innovation, entrepreneurship, partnership and economic diversification. More information is available at www.dec-ced.gc.ca.

The FedDev Ontario funding comes from its Prosperity Initiative, which encourages businesses, not-for-profit organizations, and post-secondary institutions in southern Ontario to undertake projects resulting in a more productive, diversified, and competitive economy. More information is available at www.feddevontario.gc.ca.

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This news release is available online at: www.actionplan.gc.ca.