Saint-Antoine-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, September 24, 2009 – The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, today joined Nicole Ménard, Member of the National Assembly for Laporte, Quebec Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Montérégie region, acting on behalf of Laurent Lessard, Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy, in announcing that the Municipality of Saint-Antoine-sur-Richelieu will receive $172,260 in joint government funding under the Communities Component of the Building Canada Fund – Quebec for the expansion of its community centre for recreational purposes.
The Municipality plans to use this funding to construct a 3,315 square metre two-level extension to the community centre, consisting of premises that will communicate with the community centre as well as with outside the building. The new wing will fill a long-awaited need for space, particularly for organizing sports activities in the community.
Directly benefiting some 1,619 local residents, this work will help increase the number of activities available to citizens in a comfortable and safe environment, while renewing community infrastructure within a sustainable development context.
“The construction of an extension to the Saint-Antoine-sur-Richelieu community centre will enable the municipality to meet the needs of sports organizations and the community. The new facilities will improve the quality of the services offered to enthusiasts who will be able to practice their sport under proper conditions and, especially, on a year-round basis. Our communities across the country have to be able to rely on quality public infrastructure and the realization of this project demonstrates once again that a coordinated approach between the cities and the governments of Quebec and Canada produces concrete results,” noted 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,” added Minister Ménard.
Completion of this project will necessitate an overall eligible investment of $258,390. The governments of Quebec and Canada will each contribute $86,130 toward the work, for a total of $172,260 in combined government funding, while the Municipality of Saint-Antoine-sur-Richelieu will itself invest $86,130 in the project.
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.
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
Karina Gagnon
Communications
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 418-368-6048 or 1-866-368-0044
André Poirier
Political Advisor
Office of the Quebec Minister of Tourism and
Minister responsible for the Montérégie region
Tel.: 450-672-1885
Sylvain Bourassa
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy
Tel.: 418-691-2050
Communications Branch
Department of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy of Quebec
Tel.: 514-873-6403
