Trois-Rivières, September 28, 2009 – Laviolette Park in Trois-Rivières will soon have a new water play area and fitness equipment, today announced both Jean-Paul Diamond, Member of the National Assembly for Maskinongé and Parliamentary Assistant to Quebec’s Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy, acting on behalf of Michelle Courchesne, Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports, and the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development. The project, which will cost a total of $812,191, will be carried out thanks to $392,126 in combined government funding contributed in equal part by the governments of Quebec and Canada.
The project will involve equipping Laviolette Park with a water play area as well as physical fitness modules for residents of all ages. The accessibility of the site and diversity of its facilities promise to make the park a major local attraction.
“Laviolette Park will now become, more than ever before, a prime gathering place for all those who care about their health and want to stay in good physical shape. If we are to encourage citizens to take up and maintain a physically active lifestyle, they have to be given access to quality infrastructure that is safe, appealing and user-friendly. This is something that Trois-Rivières has clearly understood and I congratulate the city on this initiative,” stated Mr. Diamond.
“Many of our recreational facilities have become outdated and are in need of renovation. However, in a recessionary period like the one we are experiencing, it is difficult for most municipalities to assume the costs of such projects. Through our Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program provided for under Canada’s Economic Action Plan, $500 million will be invested over two years in the modernization of our sports facilities across the country. I am delighted to see this project move forward because I know it will significantly improve the quality of the living environment for Trois-Rivières residents,” added Minister of State Lebel.
The governments of Canada and Quebec signed an agreement to accelerate the execution of recreational infrastructure modernization and rehabilitation projects in Quebec over the next two years. To that end, the Government of Canada will invest $37.4 million and the Government of Quebec at least an equivalent amount for recreational infrastructure projects carried out in cost-sharing partnership with municipal administrations or local organizations. These investments are thus expected to generate greater financial leverage, as is the case with the other infrastructure programs.
The funding announced today has been awarded through the Programme de soutien aux installations sportives et récréatives of the Government of Quebec’s Fonds pour le développement du sport et de l’activité physique and through the Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program.
The Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program, part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, is intended to stimulate immediate economic recovery and reduce the short-term impacts of the global recession. Government investment in this area will help create new jobs and improve the population’s health and quality of life. For more on this plan, see www.actionplan.gc.ca.
The Fonds pour le développement du sport et de l’activité physique was established by the Government of Quebec to ensure the province’s regions better access to new and improved sports facilities in order to promote healthier lifestyles among their populations. For further details on this program, visit www.mels.gouv.qc.ca/sections/fondDeveloppement/.
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Sources:
Kim Ledoux
Press Secretary
Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports
Tel.: 418-644-0664
Simon Bachand
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 613-996-6236
