June 05, 2009
Wainwright, Alberta
Today, Leon Benoit, Member of Parliament for Vegreville¾Wainwright, on behalf of the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, announced one of the first projects under the Government of Canada's Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) program in Alberta.
"I'm pleased to announce funding towards the renovation of the Village of Chauvin's arena, one of the first projects under the Recreational Infrastructure Canada program in Alberta," said MP Benoit. "These critical investments under RInC will help put Canadians to work, encourage greater participation in physical activity and use of recreational facilities, and ensure that communities across the West have access to the essential infrastructure we need today and in the future."
This project involves the renovation of the Village of Chauvin's arena. The existing deteriorating roof and end walls will be removed and replaced with a continuous metal roof system. This project will benefit the community by providing a better recreational facility that will contribute to the health and quality of life of the residents of Chauvin and surrounding areas.
"Ensuring this arena's longevity is important to the community," said Calvin Winterholt, Vice President of the Chauvin Agricultural Society. "We have a lot of community events here such as ice hockey games, power skating and floor hockey, as well as a learn to skate program and a speed skating club. This project means that we will be able to continue these activities."
Federal funding of more than $107,000 is being provided by Western Economic Diversification Canada toward this project under the Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) program.
The Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) program, is part of Canada's Economic Action Plan. RInC will invest $500 million in recreational facilities across Canada over a two-year period. It will provide a temporary economic stimulus that will help reduce the impacts of the global recession while renewing, upgrading and expanding recreational infrastructure in Canadian communities.
Western Economic Diversification Canada works with the provinces, industry associations and communities to promote the development and diversification of the western economy, coordinates federal economic activities in the West and represents the interests of western Canadians in national decision making.
For more information on the Recreational Infrastructure Canada program in the West, please visit: http://www.wd-deo.gc.ca/.
For information on Canada's Economic Action Plan, please visit http://www.actionplan.gc.ca/.
For additional information, contact:
Donna Kinley
Regional Manager, Communications & Corp Liaison
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Edmonton, Alberta
Tel.: (780) 495-6892
Cell: (780) 991-7432
Calvin Winterholt
Vice President, Chauvin Agricultural Society
Phone: (780) 753-0652
WD Toll-Free Number:1 888 338-WEST (9378)
Teletypewriter (TTY): 1 877 303-3388
Website: WD is online at www.wd-deo.gc.ca.
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Backgrounder
Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program
The Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) program provides $500 million nationally for projects to rehabilitate recreational facilities across Canada that can be completed by March 31, 2011.
Through RInC, the Government of Canada has committed to supporting upgrades and repairs to existing recreational assets.
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 amount of construction activity related to recreational infrastructure. Through the rehabilitation of recreational infrastructure, this program also encourages participation in physical activity and community building.
The initial RInC allocation for Western Canada, to be delivered by Western Economic Diversification Canada, is almost $54 million. The remaining funding, over the next two years, will be allocated based on the number of applications submitted to the Department.
Program Eligibility
Eligible applicants:
- Municipal and local governments, agencies, and provincial entities that provide municipal-type services to communities;
- Not-for-profit entity;
- First Nation governments, Band or Tribal Councils, or their legally-designated representatives.
Eligible Projects:
- Arenas
- Gymnasia
- Swimming pools
- Sports fields
- Tennis, basketball, volleyball or other sport-specific courts;
- Parks, fitness trails, and bike paths;
- Other multi-purpose facilities that have physical recreation activity as the primary rationale.
Eligible projects must also:
- Fall under one of the above eligible categories;
- Normally be for the rehabilitation or repair of existing infrastructure, including new construction that is either adding to or replacing existing recreational infrastructure assets or capacity;
- Begin and materially conclude construction before March 31, 2011; and,
Application
- Not have otherwise occurred, as proposed, without support from the RInC program, i.e. be incremental.
Project Selection
Projects must meet the mandatory requirements as outlined in program eligibility section. Furthermore, projects will be recommended and approved on the basis of merit. The application form is available online at http://www.wd.gc.ca/eng/11264.asp. Project proposals are due June 19, 2009.
In addition to meeting the eligibility requirements described above, projects will be assessed on:
- construction-readiness;
- planned completion date;
- incrementality; and,
- the extent to which other funding is leveraged.
Depending on the volume of applications received, other criteria may be applied.
For more information, please contact:
WD Toll-Free Number: 1-888-338-WEST (9378)
Teletypewriter (TTY): 1-877-303-3388
Website: http://www.wd-deo.gc.ca/
Email: rinc-ilc@wd-deo.gc.ca
For further information, please visit: http://www.wd-deo.gc.ca/eng/11264.asp
