Canada opens dedicated office to support redevelopment of Lac-Megantic

The Canadian government will provide nearly $2 million Canadian to open a new office in support of the reconstruction and economic recovery of the city of Lac-Megantic, Quebec, which was devastated by an oil train derailment in July, 2013.    The Canadian government last week announced it would provide federal funding to support a new bureau that will oversee the reconstruction and economic recovery of the city of Lac-Megantic, Quebec over the next three years.
   Lac-Megantic was devastated by the derailment of a Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway crude oil train derailed and exploded in the city on July 6, 2013. The incident left 47 people dead and much of the downtown area destroyed.
   The financial assistance announced last week totals $1.97 million Canadian (U.S. $1.41 million) in the form of a nonrefundable contribution under the City Reconstruction Projects of the Economic Recovery Initiative for Lac-Megantic (ERILM). The funds will be administered by the Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED), Transport Canada officials said in a statement.
   Transport Canada noted the ERILM has a total budget of $35 million, as announced in December 2013, and over $155 million has been disbursed by the Government of Canada to help the community of Lac-Mégantic since July 2013.
   “I am pleased to announce the Government of Canada’s contribution to the Bureau de reconstruction du centre-ville de Lac-Mégantic, a meaningful step towards revitalizing the heart of this community,” said Minister of Transport Marc Garneau. “As a Quebecker, this tragedy affected me deeply, and as Minister of Transport, I will continue to take the lessons learned here and work to strengthen rail safety and prevent similar accidents from happening again.”
   “The Government of Canada is making it a priority to be there for the companies and community of Lac-Mégantic in the short-, mid- and long-term. That support reiterates the government’s commitment to supporting the economic rebuilding and recovery of the Town of Lac-Mégantic,” added Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Navdeep Bains.