A record $430 million in investments in 2009

From this mountain of money, intended to stimulate the economy, only 16% will come from loans whose interest will be charged to Laval taxpayers, mayor Gilles Vaillancourt made sure to point out.

Of the total, $172.9 million falls into the category of compensation from developers and other partners, $112.3 million from the city's cash reserves, and $76.5 million from the other two levels of government, leaving only $67.7 million to be borrowed.

As of now, $67 million is earmarked for repair of road infrastructures, $43.5 million for renovation of three water purification plants (Chomedey, Pont-Viau, Sainte-Rose), $21.6 million for upgrading of water mains and $3.9 million for repairs to Autoroute 13 service roads.

Opening of new streets and extension of exiting ones will have little impact on the Ville de Laval accrued deficit, considering that this work will be financed by developers and those benefiting from services obtained.

Elsewhere, the city will invest $22.2 million to make industrial lots viable by bringing municipal services to various sectors bordering on boulevards such as Industriel, Dagenais Ouest, Cléroux, rue Maurice-Gauvais, and the extension of rue Louis-B. Mayer in the heart of the Impact 440 Industrial Park.

The other three major parts of the investment plan consist of parks management and acquisition of green and nature-oriented spaces ($38.3 million), enhancement of roads, bicycle paths and walking trails ($23.9 million), and the development of sewers and aqueducts (18.9 million).