Laval, Quebec, June 30, 2009 – Acting on her own behalf and on behalf of Laurent Lessard, Ministre des Affaires municipales, des Régions et de l’Occupation du territoire, Michelle Courchesne, Ministre de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport, today joined Alain Paquet, Member of the National Assembly for Laval-des-Rapides and Parliamentary Assistant to the Premier, and the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Economic Development Canada, in announcing the signing of the Canada-Quebec Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program Agreement. They took this opportunity to announce $1.1 million in funding under this Agreement for the renovation of Laval’s Centre Sportif Val-des-Arbres.
Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the federal government has established the two-year Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program to provide local economic stimulus by increasing total recreation facility construction activity. To kick-start the program in Quebec, the governments of Canada and Quebec will each allocate an initial amount of $37.4 million for the completion, by March 31, 2011, of recreational infrastructure projects under their programs. The municipalities and project proponents will complete project funding by matching the government contributions and thereby generating $150 million in recreational infrastructure benefits for Quebec.
The projects are to be submitted to Quebec’s Programme de soutien aux installations sportives et récréatives of the Ministère de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport or under the local or regional development support infrastructure sub-components of the Building Canada Fund, Fonds Chantiers Canada-Québec of the Ministère des Affaires municipales, des Régions et de l’Occupation du territoire. These programs are dedicated to providing financial support for the construction, renovation, equipping and bringing up to standards of sports and recreational facilities.
“This new funding will give Quebecers even readier access to modern, high-quality sports and recreational facilities. In keeping with its motto, “Au Québec, on aime la vie”, the Government of Quebec wants to encourage its citizens to engage in physical activity and adopt a healthy lifestyle. We also want provide our athletes with high-calibre training sites. The signing of the Canada-Quebec Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program Agreement is therefore great news for all of our citizens,” said Michelle Courchesne.
“Many of Quebec’s sports facilities need to be renovated. The Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program will help us both upgrade our sports and recreational centres and support communities hard hit by the economic downturn,” said Minister Lebel. “Today’s announcement demonstrates the Government of Canada’s commitment to taking the necessary steps so that, together, we can weather the economic storm.”
“Implementation of this Agreement in Quebec supports and reinforces measures our government has already undertaken to improve the quality of sports and recreational infrastructure in all regions of Quebec,” noted Minister Lessard.
RENOVATION OF CENTRE SPORTIF VAL-DES-ARBRES
MNA Paquet announced one of the projects to benefit from this Agreement, namely, the Complexe Multi-Sports de Laval Inc., which will receive $1.1 million in funding to renovate the Val-des-Arbres sports centre. The City of Laval and the sports complex will make up the remainder of the required funding for this $2,201,500 project. The project consists primarily of bringing the existing structures up to standard, re-roofing and insulation and rehabilitation work.
This investment has been awarded under the Programme de soutien aux installations sportives et récréatives of Quebec’s Fonds pour le développement du sport et de l’activité physique and the Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program. The Quebec and Canada governments are contributing equally to the project.
“Built in 1972, the Centre sportif Val-des-Arbres will be getting a major facelift. This centre is very important to the citizens and various associations of Laval. It is used for a wide variety of activities, like gymnastics, petanque, boxing, soccer and swimming. By investing in sports and recreational facilities, our governments are contributing to the health and well-being of Quebecers,” concluded MNA Alain Paquet.
“When completed, the Val-des-Arbres sports centre will be a totally refurbished facility where Laval residents will want to congregate, where they will enjoy a more modern, spacious and versatile establishment to engage in a broader range of sports and recreational activities,” stated the Minister of State. “In this spirit, the Government of Canada has adopted an economic action plan that aims, among others, to improve the quality of life of Canadians, stimulate the economy and create jobs through the realization of major infrastructure work right across the country.”
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Sources :
Kim Ledoux
Press Secretary to the Minister of Education, Recreation and Sport
Tel.: 418-644-0664
Stéphanie Desforges
Senior Special Assistant, Communications
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Tel.: 514-496-1282
