Liberal MNAs announce $24 million local investment in education

Three Laval Liberal MNAs made announcements earlier this week of important funding for the construction of two new schools in Laval and renovations for an existing one.
Speaking on behalf of Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports, Line Beauchamp, Chomedey Liberal MNA Guy Ouellette and Vimont Liberal MNA Vincent Auclair announced an allocation of $23,604,352 to the Commission scolaire de Laval for the construction of the new schools to be located in southern Chomedey and in Sainte-Rose.

Much needed
The projects will result in the addition at the CSL of eight classrooms for preschool and 50 classrooms for elementary education. The new schools will be meeting a pressing need anticipated for school space in Chomedey and Sainte-Rose in the years ahead, owing to a reduction in the number of students per class and a rise in the number of elementary school students.
“I am delighted for young Laval families, whose children will benefit from high-quality educational services in a modern and stimulating environment,” said Ouellette. “By investing in this project, the government is clearly meeting a genuine need.”
“This government investment responds to a real need, taking into account the demographic growth that the Laval region is undergoing,” said Auclair.

$300 million for province
The school board will contribute $185,300 for each new school, which it will recover through energy saving measures. The balance will come from a partial tax rebate. The projects are among the new initiatives funded under the Liberal government’s Five-Year Capital Plan for 2010 2015.
It are on a list of 51 projects slated to begin all over Quebec this year, as announced by Beauchamp. A total of $300 million has been earmarked by her ministry for implementing the projects, which consist primarily of building new schools or expanding existing ones.
“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,” Beauchamp noted. “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 the coming years.”

SWLSB renovations
Francine Charbonneau, the Liberal MNA for Mille-Îles, also announced $320,000 in funding for the Sir-Wilfrid-Laurier School Board to upgrade Saint Vincent Annex School. The English-language elementary school located in Laval has been open since September 2010. The funding will help defray the costs of purchasing furnishings, equipment and tools, as well as books for the library, which the ministry said is essential for maintaining quality school services.
“The announcement of this funding is excellent news for the region because, from now on, the students and staff at Saint Vincent Annex School will have all the equipment and material needed to ensure quality educational services in a stimulating learning environment,” said Charbonneau. The total cost of the project is $341,344 and the balance of $21,344 will come from a partial tax rebate.