Montmagny, Quebec, July 5, 2005 - On behalf of the
Honourable Jacques Saada, Minister of
Canada Economic Development and Minister responsible for the
Francophonie, the Honourable Claude Drouin, Member of Parliament for
Beauce and Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister with special emphasis
on Rural Communities, today announced the awarding of a $302,000 repayable
contribution to Appalaches Lodge SPA Villégiature, a new high-end
year-round tourism complex intended for national and international visitors. The
more than $2 million project is expected to create 23 new jobs in the
region, 18 of them full-time positions.
"Tourism is a key economic sector that contributes significantly to regional
development. Current market conditions favour the establishment of a
large-scale project such as the Appalaches Lodge SPA
Villégiature, which aims to attract foreign tourists with its nordic health
spa concept and wide range of outdoor and adventure activities, both popular
trends in tourism. This new attraction will have a growth-generating impact on
the regional economy as a whole by expanding the recreational tourism options
available in the Chaudière-Appalaches region," stated
Minister Saada.
This funding from Canada Economic Development is awarded under the
Agency's Regional Strategic Initiatives (RSI) Program and is intended primarily
to enhance the Montmagny region's drawing power in order to make it a prime
four-season destination for recreational tourism. As well as
drawing an estimated half of its patrons from international markets, this new
complex will help extend the tourism season and open up opportunities for close
partnerships with existing distribution networks and other regional businesses
and attractions, notably the Parc régional du Massif du Sud.
"The Appalaches Lodge SPA Villégiature project will generate
considerable spinoffs in the region, among them the injection of an annual
payroll of more than $400,000 into an economy that has been hit in recent years
by business shutdowns. This support from the Government of Canada, which will
help increase the tourism sector's contribution to the region's economic
activity, is a clear indication of our commitment to find concrete ways to
stimulate the economic vitality of the MRC de Montmagny," explained
Mr. Drouin.
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:Guylaine BeaudoinCommunicationsCanada Economic DevelopmentTel.: 514 283-0368Cell.: 418 580-8215,
Daniel DezaindePress SecretaryOffice of the
Honourable Jacques SaadaCanada Economic DevelopmentTel.: 514 496-1282
