Acton Vale, Quebec, September 10, 2009 – The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, today joined Laurent Lessard, Quebec’s Ministre des Affaires municipales, des Régions et de l’Occupation du territoire, in announcing the awarding of two financial contributions under the Building Canada Fund – Quebec, Communities Component. The City of Acton Vale will receive $4,222,312 in joint government funding to renovate its municipal arena, and the municipality of Roxton Pond will receive $3,600,000 in combined government assistance to extend the water and sewer system around Roxton Lake.
Acton Vale’s arena was built in 1969. The building and equipment no longer adequately meet the needs of the city’s 7,500 residents. The upgrading of the Sports Centre involves expanding, restoring and bringing the centre up to standard as well as redesigning its interior to enhance its performance and sustainability. The building currently covers an area of 3,600 square metres to which will be added 2,040 square metres. The skating rink and stands sector will be maintained, the ice rink refrigeration system, modified and the adjacent areas (entrance hall, players’ rooms, offices, etc.), rebuilt to optimize the interior spaces.
Completion of this project will necessitate an overall eligible investment of $6,333,469. The governments of Quebec and Canada will each contribute $2,111,156 toward the work, for a total of $4,222,312 in combined government funding, while the City of Acton Vale will itself invest $2,111,157 in the project.
The project involves installing a water and sanitary sewer system in sector 1 around Roxton Lake. Sewage collection work is aimed at reducing nonpoint source pollution of the environment which could add to the contamination of Roxton Lake which already has a significant problem with cyanobacteria.
Completion of this project will necessitate an overall eligible investment of $5,399,998. The governments of Quebec and Canada will each contribute $1,800,000 toward the work, for a total of $3,600,000 in combined government funding, while the municipality of Roxton Pond will itself invest $1,799,998 in the project.
“The two projects announced today will directly benefit a large number of Roxton Pond and Acton Vale residents. We are proud to be able to offer Canadians the high quality of life for which our country is famous. It is important for the Government of Canada to ensure that each and every community has quality public infrastructure, particularly when it comes to health and safety. Public infrastructure renewal is part of our larger action plan to help Canada’s communities flourish and prosper in a healthy environment,” said Minister of State Denis Lebel.
“In supporting this major project, the Government of Quebec is moving forward to ensure the province’s municipalities have infrastructure that suits their unique realities while fostering sustainable development, a key element of any modern, wealth-building economy. By injecting new capital into the Quebec Infrastructure Plan, our government is looking to accelerate the execution of numerous infrastructure projects throughout the province in an effort to improve the well-being of Quebecers, create jobs and promote a high-performance economy. Our government wants to leave Quebec municipalities a legacy of quality infrastructure with which to face the challenges of the future,” added Minister Lessard.
“Renovation of the Action Vale Sports Centre will ensure an essential gathering place for young athletes is maintained while also generating economic spin-offs from hockey tournaments and figure skating competitions. Furthermore, the infrastructure work around Roxton Lake will enhance residents’ quality of life as well as the quality of their drinking water in the context of sustainable development,” commented Monique Gagnon-Tremblay, Ministre responsable de la région de l’Estrie.
The Communities Component of the Building Canada Fund – Quebec is a cost-sharing initiative aimed at funding infrastructure projects in communities with fewer than 100,000 inhabitants. These communities are thus able to use this assistance to improve infrastructure that is in major need of revitalization, including water treatment plants, water supply systems and cultural and sports centres.
An unprecedented funding commitment on the part of the Government of Canada, the Building Canada Fund – Quebec provides stable and predictable funding to support infrastructure projects. In Quebec, nearly $4 billion will be allocated to that end.
The contribution from the Government of Canada has been awarded through Canada’s Economic Action Plan. To learn more about this plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.
For further details on the Building Canada Fund – Quebec or the process for submitting a funding application, see www.buildingcanada.gc.ca and www.mamrot.gouv.qc.ca/ .
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Sources:
Simon Bachand
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 613-996-6236
Catherine Vallée
Communications
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 514-283-0368
Sylvain Bourassa
Press Secretary
Office of the Ministre des Affaires municipales, des Régions et de l’Occupation du territoire
Tel.: 418-691-2050
Communications Branch
Ministère des Affaires municipales, des Régions et de l’Occupation du territoire
Tel.: 514-873-6403
