Press Room

Gatineau, (Buckingham), May 8th, 2009  The Member of Papineau and Minister for Transport and Minister responsible for the Outaouais Region, Norman MacMillan, is pleased to inform residents that Deputy Premier and Minister for Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy, Nathalie Normandeau, announced a $5.5 million investment on March 27 under the Plan d’action gouvernemental à l’intention des municipalités dévitalisées.

This amount will be used to fund projects to maintain and develop basic services in economically decayed municipalities, namely services considered essential to a community’s vitality in order to specifically support companies in the food and fuel industries.

It will also be used to help decayed municipalities purchase essential equipment that meets government standards, particularly in the fields of the environment and fire safety. For example, this funding will help municipalities acquire compliant containers and fire trucks.

“Thanks to this plan, two economically decayed municipalities Papineau will be able to count on targeted support from the government to identify appropriate and lasting solutions to their problems,” Norman MacMillan added.

The Plan d’action gouvernemental à l’intention des municipalités dévitalisées, announced in fall 2008, aims to address problems experienced by economically decayed municipalities, such as high unemployment rates, low incomes, migration and population aging.

Gatineau (Buckingham), April 3rd, 2009 – Member for Papineau and Minister for Transport and Minister for the Outaouais Region, Norman MacMillan,  welcomes the announcement made on March 27th by the Premier of Québec, Mr. Jean Charest, and the Prime Minister of Canada, Mr. Stephen Harper, of investments totalling $2.3 billion for new infrastructure projects. These projects will help stimulate the economy and employment in all regions of Québec.

”Today's announcement is in line with the objectives set out in our last budget. We are the government of the economy. Investing in infrastructure is a concrete way for us to counter the crisis, by supporting employment while preparing Québec so we may be the first to bounce back at the earliest signs of recovery. Remember that every billion dollars invested supports more than 8,000 jobs,” said Premier Charest.

Already, the Federal Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, John Baird, and Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy, Nathalie Normandeau, have signed two infrastructure agreements. These ententes relate to the “Communities” and “Large Urban Centres” components of the Building Canada Plan arising from the Canada-Québec Infrastructure Framework Agreement, and the new financial assistance program for the renewal of drinking and waste water conduits (called PRECO). These components account for more than $1.2 billion, with PRECO representing over $1 billion, funded equally by the two governments.

“It is thanks to the signing of the Infrastructure Framework Agreement last September 3rd, through the components of the Building Canada Plan, that funds totalling billions of dollars are reserved for Québec’s use. With this participation by the federal government, the Québec government possesses additional tools to boost employment and the economy. I am proud to be part of a government that, at the first sign of a slowdown, took concrete steps allowing Québec today to be in a better position to face the economic storm,” said Mr. MacMillan.
 

Gatineau (Buckingham), April 2, 2009 – The Minister for Transport and Minister responsible for the Outaouais Region and Member for Papineau, Mr. Norman MacMillan, is delighted by the official launch by the Premier of Québec, Mr. Jean Charest, also responsible for youth issues, of the 2009-2014 Youth Action Strategy. On March 27th, in the presence of the main partners involved in implementing the Strategy as well as youth group representatives, Mr. Charest presented the broad outlines of the new Strategy, the aim of which is “enrichir le Québec de sa relève” (enriching Québec through renewal).
 
”Québec needs the participation of all young people to ensure its development. We must support and guide them so they are able to find their rightful place in our society. With the Youth Action Strategy, we are proposing concrete measures that will sustain them and ensure their success,” said the Premier.

This Strategy continues the previous one while updating and intensifying the efforts of the government on certain issues, notably keeping students in school. The Strategy will be achieved through close collaboration with all relevant stakeholders. Business, community organizations, representatives of youth groups, education and municipal officials will work together to accomplish our objectives. In fact, hundreds of partners will participate in the proposed plans, taking actions that will have positive effects on the lives of young people, particularly by helping them complete their educations and easing their entry into the labour market.
 
The 2009-2014 Youth Action Strategy takes six active challenges:
 
The Challenge of Education and Employment
The fight to encourage student retention, employment and integration, to prepare young people for our new globalized world is at the heart of our concerns.

The Challenge of Entrepreneurship 
The Government wants to intensify its efforts to develop an entrepreneurial culture and support for those who are entering the field.
 
The Challenge of Health
The Government will continue working to promote healthy lifestyles and prevent risky behaviour.

The Challenge of the Regions
Encourage the presence of young people in all regions of Québec and promote their ongoing engagement within their communities.
 
The Challenge of Diversity
Promote respect for diversity and the involvement of young immigrants in the heart of Québec society.

The Challenge of the Environment
The Government intends to foster the development of youth expertise in the environment.

Mr. MacMillan is proud to belong to a government that maximizes its positive impact on youth. “In developing a five-year action plan, the Government encourages the establishment of stable measures and the development of tools for working directly with young people. This continues the important work initiated by the 2006-2009 Strategy, which has already resulted in concrete actions of significant impact in the lives of thousands of young people,” said the Minister for Transport and Minister responsible for the Outaouais Region and Member for Papineau.
 

Gatineau (Buckingham), February 23rd, 2009 – The Member of Papineau and Minister for Transports and Minister responsible for the Outaouais Region, Norman MacMillan, welcomes the establishment of a working group to strengthen measures aimed at the wellbeing of companion animals, as announced on February 12th by Mr. Laurent Lessard, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
 
 The Member for Papineau welcomes the initiative of the Government to intervene in this matter. “People are becoming increasingly concerned about the welfare of animals. When we see the unequivocal abuse inflicted upon them, none of us can remain indifferent,” said Mr. MacMillan.
 
The working group will examine various issues related to the treatment of pets, especially dogs, and propose short- and medium-term solutions. It will focus more specifically on a draft regulation that would require registration of all places of where animals are kept, sold or bred in Quebec.
 
Representatives of the major organizations concerned with the welfare of animals will be invited to participate in this roundtable. Chaired by Mr. Geoffrey Kelley, MNA for Jacques-Cartier, the working group will be tasked with developing a strategy involving these groups in order to improve the quality of life of our pets.
 
”The establishment by the government of this working group lays the foundation for joint action by all those who say they are concerned with the well-being of our animal companions,” declared Mr. MacMillan.
 

Gatineau (Buckingham) February 13th, 2009  – The Member for Papineau and Minister for Transport and Minister responsible for the Outaouais Region, Norman MacMillan, welcomes the news that a grant of $400,000 has been awarded for a project to prevent suicide among persons 50 to 64 years of age. Announced by the Minister responsible for Seniors, Ms. Marguerite Blais, and the Association québécoise des retraités des secteurs public et parapublic (AQRP), this aid, to cover a period of four years, follows the commitment made by Ms. Blais in fall 2008.    

Announced last week at the Semaine québécoise de prévention du suicide, this project involves the deployment of a network across Quebec of “sentinels” trained to detect the warning signs of a suicidal crisis. An initial pilot project will be initiated in the region of Chaudière-Appalaches and is supported by the Association québécoise de prévention du suicide (AQPS) and by La Capitale Financial Group.

Member for Papineau is concerned about the situation of seniors in Québec. "The latest figures tell us that suicide significantly affects those over 50 years of age. It is therefore important to be attentive to signs of distress,” he said.
 
According to data from the Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ), the year 2007 presented its lowest rate of suicide in several decades. However, this decline has not been so pronounced among those between the ages of 50 and 64 years.

“We must remain sensitive to the needs of our seniors and especially to help them remain free of the loneliness and indifference that often leads to suicide. We all have a role to play in preventing such tragic events,” said the Member for Papineau, mr. MacMillan.
 
Help is available by phone at 1-866-APPELLE, to assist those contemplating suicide, their families, and those bereaved persons touched suicide.