Saint-Prime, Quebec, March 20, 2009 −The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, today announced that the Government of Canada has relaxed its application criteria for the funding measure for Quebec tourist accommodation facilities.
All of the province’s tourist lodging facilities—with the exception of those located in the Gatineau, Montréal and Québec Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs) and in cities with populations of more than 20,000 people outside of the seven economically-devitalized regions and 21 Regional County Municipalities (RCMs)—will now be eligible to apply for funding under this measure, provided certain conditions are met. The funded establishment must be seen to contribute to the preservation or development of a tourism product recognized by the regional or sectoral tourism association concerned, and must also take part in the commercialization plans carried out by these associations. The new relaxed terms include abolition of the $300,000 ceiling for Canada Economic Development contributions and eligibility of construction projects for new facilities.
Tourist accommodations in the vulnerable communities within Quebec’s seven regions and 21 RCMs suffering the greatest economic devitalization will continue to benefit from additional support measures. Among these, outfitting operations will now be eligible for financial assistance, as might other types of establishments posting a rise in off-season tourist traffic.
“This past January and February, I had the opportunity to tour the regions of Quebec and meet with stakeholders actively involved in the economic life of their communities. The comments that emerged from those meetings were then used to guide us in making informed and enlightened decisions. Consequently, Canada Economic Development has relaxed some of its measures, among them the one we are announcing today, in an effort to more effectively meet the needs of the regions and better prepare them for the challenges brought on by this period of economic turbulence,” explained the Minister of State.
“We are more committed than ever to supporting innovative enterprises, as our most recent budget illustrates by setting out measures that have been tailored to help small and medium-sized enterprises get through the current economic crisis,”he added.
Minister of State Lebel has set out on another tour this week to announce the other measures the Government of Canada has put in place to create the kind of national climate that will help Canadian businesses and families better weather the economic crisis.
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Sources:
Nadia Marceau
Communications
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 418-668-4602 or 1-800-463-9808
Cell.: 418-321-0295
E-mail: nadia.marceau@dec-ced.gc.ca
Éric Lefebvre
Senior Special Assistant, Communications
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development
Cell.: 613-608-7906
E-mail: eric.lefebvre@dec-ced.gc.ca
