Maniwaki, Quebec, July 5, 2005 - On behalf of the
Honourable Jacques Saada, Minister of
Canada Economic Development and Minister responsible for the
Francophonie, Mr. David Smith, Member of Parliament for Pontiac, today
announced the awarding of a $26,775 contribution to the Corporation de
gestion de la Forêt de l'Aigle to carry out a study on the
development of new activities to enhance its tourism offering.
The mission of the Corporation de gestion de la
Forêt de l'Aigle is to manage the conservation and enhancement of
all the resources on its territory in an effort to intensify the socio-economic
vitality of bordering communities.
Canada Economic Development is a long-standing partner
of the Forêt de l'Aigle team. In the last five years, Agency
funding has enabled the Corporation to undertake a variety of projects,
including the organization of a symposium on the inhabited forest, installation
of a suspended foot bridge, construction of five new cottages and refurbishment
of its reception facilities. The Agency contributed a total of $351,786 toward
these projects out of overall investments of $845,250.
"By expanding the range of products it offers, the Corporation will be
able to attract new clienteles, extend the average length of stay of visitors
and, in so doing, become a major tourist draw for the Outaouais region,"
Mr. Smith explained.
"Canada Economic Development's role is to support local
entrepreneurial spirit in an effort to strengthen community vitality. All we
have to do is look at the Corporation's track record to see the value in
ensuring it has the tools it needs to pursue its solid performance," added
Minister Saada.
Canada Economic Development's mandate is to promote the economic
development of the regions of Quebec. Primarily through financial assistance
programs, the Agency elicits and supports the implementation of economic
development projects. The two priorities the Agency has set itself are to foster
innovation and the knowledge economy in each region of Quebec, and to help
communities that are having difficulty adjusting to the new economy. In this
way, the Agency contributes to the attainment of the Government of Canada's
objective of building the 21st Century economy.
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Sources:
François BélisleCommunicationsCanada Economic DevelopmentTel.: (819) 825-5260 ext. 235
E-Mail: francois.belisle@dec-ced.gc.ca
Daniel DezaindePress SecretaryOffice of the
Honourable Jacques SaadaCanada Economic DevelopmentTel.: (514) 496-1282
