Like the song Old Man River, the Grenville Canal keeps rolling along, but the funding to restore the historic waterway has not yet flowed.
When Grenville village council met on August 3, Mayor Pierre Thauvette said that there had been not yet been any official notification from the Québec and federal government’s regarding funding to restore and preserve the canal. The federal government had previously stated that $2.5 million was available which would be complemented by $2 million from Québec.
At the Municipalité Régional du Comté (MRC) d’Argenteuil council meeting on August 12, a resolution was approved to have the MRC send a letter to the federal government reminding it to honour its commitment to the funding.
MRC d’Argenteuil Prefect Scott Pearce called the Grenville Canal funding a “complex file.”
Safety improvements requested
On August 12, MRC d’Argenteuil council voted to request that the Ministère des transports du Québec improve the safety of the Route Verte (VéloRoute d’Argenteuil) cycling route, at the intersection of route 344 and Montée Saint-Philippe, in Brownsburg-Chatham. Council wants the provincial transportation department to install better signage and install a flashing light at the intersection.
Food funding
The MRC d’Argenteuil has received $35,000 from the Québec agriculture, food, and fisheries ministry to assist with the development of the biofoods sector in the region. The grant will be used to integrate biofood production into the agricultural zoning process in the MRC.
Internet funding requested
At its August 12 meeting, MRC d’Argenteuil council requested that the governments of Canada and Québec increase the financial assistance first granted in November 2017 as part of the Connect to Innovate program and Québec Branché, for the expansion of high speed, fibre-optic internet on part of its territory. The increase would cover additional costs to the MRC for preparatory work required by Bell Canada.
