11 May 2009
Fredericton, New Brunswick
Local hockey rinks, swimming pools, sports fields, and other community recreational sites throughout Atlantic Canada will be eligible to receive funding for upgrades and repairs thanks to the new Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) Program in Canada's Economic Action Plan.
The Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), today announced that RInC is now open for business.
"Investing in better recreational facilities will help the Government of Canada to stimulate the economy, improve local facilities and services, and contribute to the health and quality of life of people in communities across Atlantic Canada," said Minister Ashfield. "Recreational facilities are the social and athletic heartbeat of our communities. They bring us together as families, friends and neighbours to learn new skills, exchange ideas, get fit and healthy, and have fun."
Budget 2009 provided $500 million over two years for RInC to support upgrading and renewal of recreational facilities in communities. ACOA will deliver RInC in Atlantic Canada.
The initial allocation under RInC for Atlantic Canada is $12 million. The remaining funding over the next two years will be allocated based on applications submitted to ACOA. Projects will be selected on the basis of merit and construction readiness.
RInC provides an immediate, targeted stimulus to the economy, and helps mitigate the impacts of the global economic recession by increasing construction activity in the recreational sector. Through the rehabilitation of recreational infrastructure, this program also encourages participation in physical activity and community building.
For details on project eligibility and how to submit an application, please refer to the program backgrounder on ACOA's website at www.acoa-apeca.gc.ca.
FOR BROADCAST USE:
Upgrades and repairs to local recreational facilities in communities across Atlantic Canada will now be made easier with the Government of Canada's new Recreational Infrastructure Canada program.
ACOA Minister Keith Ashfield today announced that RInC program was now open for business, with an initial allocation of $12 million. The minister said that the funds will immediately start helping to stimulate the economy, improve local facilities and contribute to the health and quality of life of people in communities across Atlantic Canada.
Municipalities, First Nations governments, community organizations and other not-for-profit entities in Atlantic Canada that have eligible projects that can be completed before March 31, 2011, are invited to submit their proposals.
A total of $500 million over two years has been set aside through RInC to support upgrades and repairs of recreational facilities in communities throughout Canada. ACOA will deliver RInC in Atlantic Canada.
Those wanting to find out how to submit an application are asked to contact their nearest ACOA office.
Erin Filliter
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of State (ACOA)
613-941-7241
Richard Gauthier
Coordinator, Parliamentary Affairs and Media Relations
ACOA
506-851-6773
Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) Program
The Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) Program provides $500 million nationally for projects to rehabilitate recreational facilities across Canada which can be completed by March 31, 2011.
Through RInC, the Government of Canada has committed over two years, to support upgrades and repairs of existing recreational assets, including new construction that adds to or replaces existing recreational infrastructure asset or capacity.
The program is designed to provide a timely, targeted stimulus to the economy and to help mitigate the impacts of the global economic recession by increasing the total volume of construction activity related to recreational infrastructure. And through the rehabilitation of recreational infrastructure, this program also encourages participation in physical activity and community building.
The initial RInC allocation for Atlantic Canada, to be delivered by ACOA, is $12 million, with the remaining funding over the next two years to be allocated based on the number of applications submitted to the Agency. Projects will be selected on the basis of merit and construction readiness.
The Government of Canada, through ACOA, will provide one third of the total eligible project costs, with a maximum 'per project' contribution of $1 million. The proponent is expected to source the balance of the funding.
Program Eligibility
- Eligible applicants
- A municipality or a regional municipality as well as a public sector body owned by the preceding
- A non-profit entity
- A provincial entity that provides municipal-type services to communities
- First Nations governments
- Eligible Projects
- Arenas
- Swimming pools
- Gymnasiums
- Sports fields
- Parks, fitness trails and bike paths
- Tennis, basketball, volleyball or other sport- specific courts
- Other multi-purpose facilities that have physical recreation activity as the primary rationale
- Eligible projects must also:
- be construction ready and materially conclude construction before March 31, 2011;
- lever additional resources, e.g. 2/3 funding from sources other than RInC; and,
- be incremental (i.e. the project would not have occurred as proposed without support from the program).
Application
Eligible applicants must communicate with the ACOA office nearest them prior to submitting an application form.
For more information, please refer to ACOA's website at www.acoa-apeca.gc.ca.
