Chelsea, Quebec, Septembre 3, 2008 - The Member of the National Assembly for Gatineau and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports and Minister of Families, Stéphanie Vallée, on behalf of the Deputy Minister and Minister of Municipal Affairs and Regions, Nathalie Normandeau, and the Member of Parliament for Pontiac and Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, are happy to announce today that the Municipality of Chelsea will receive $6,141,704 in government funding from the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund.
This government funding will be used to build a recreational and cultural centre in Chelsea, the Meredith Centre. The new building will include a community centre, a double gymnasium and a skating rink, for a total of 4,320 square metres. The project will be completed with the construction of a driveway, parking lot and landscaping. This new infrastructure will allow citizens of Chelsea to improve their quality of life by encouraging sports practice and physical activities on a regular basis and by promoting the creation and the presentation of cultural products, thanks to the future community centre with a 400-people capacity for special events and performing arts.
The Chelsea Foundation, which actively participated in the achievement of the important Meredith Centre project, is a non-profit organization that has existed for approximately ten years. Its role is to create recreation activity areas for the benefit of the local population.
"The Quebec government is proud to support the construction of a new recreational and cultural centre in Chelsea, which will become a focal point for sports, community and cultural activities for local and regional residents. With this new venue, the Municipality of Chelsea will be able to host a larger number of major sporting and socio-cultural events, which will help support the region's economic and tourism development," said MNA Vallée.
"The Government of Canada is proud to be working with the Government of Quebec to provide a contribution of more than $3 million each to build the Meredith Centre in Chelsea," said Minister Cannon. "This new recreational and cultural complex, funded from the increased Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund, will enable Chelsea residents to enjoy greater prosperity by encouraging and promoting physical and cultural activities."
The project requires a total eligible investment of $9,212,557 under component 3 of MRIF. The governments of Quebec and Canada are each contributing $3,070,852, for a total government assistance amount of $6,141,704, while the Municipality of Chelsea is providing $3,070,853.
The mayor of the Municipality of Chelsea, Mr. Jean Perras, looks forward to the successful completion of that project, which will contribute both to citizens' wellness and to his municipality's development.
A total of $470 million in financial assistance, provided equally by the Government of Quebec and the Government of Canada, is now available under MRIF for Quebec municipalities and non-government organizations. With the financial participation of municipalities and organizations, some $700 million in work can now be carried out. The MRIF has several objectives: upgrading community infrastructure, improving the quality of the environment, improving citizens' quality of life and promoting long-term economic growth.
The program, which will continue until March 31, 2010, is managed by Quebec's Ministère des Affaires municipales et des Régions. Infrastructure Canada and Canada Economic Development ensure federal management of the program.
For more information visit www.infrastructure.gc.ca.
Catherine Loubier
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
613-991-0700
Johanne Levesque
Communications Adviser
Communications Branch
Ministère des Affaires municipales et des Régions
514-873-6910
Louise Quintin
Press Secretary
Office of the Deputy Minister
and Minister of Municipal Affairs and Regions
418-691-2050
514-873-2622
Infrastructure Canada
613-948-1148
