Québec, Quebec, November 27, 2009 – De la Chanterelle Park will boast a lighted, synthetic-surface soccer-football field, today announced both the Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, President of the Queen's Privy Council, Minister for La Francophonie and Minister responsible for the Region of Québec, acting on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, and Michel Pigeon, Member of the National Assembly for Charlesbourg and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports.
This project is to be carried out with $882,090 in government assistance, contributed in equal parts by the governments of Quebec and Canada, in partnership with Québec City, for a total investment of $1,792,659.
“Parc de la Chanterelle is a strategic location for this soccer-football field, considering the pace of real estate development in recent years and the increasing number of young families who will benefit from it. I am delighted that our two governments are supporting Québec in carrying out this great project,” said Mr. Pigeon.
“The project announced today is good news for all Val-Bélair and Haute-Saint-Charles residents who will see their quality of life enhanced as a result of this recreational and sports infrastructure,” said the Honourable Josée Verner. “The Recreational Infrastructure Canada program implemented by our government is committing $500 million over two years to modernize our sports and recreational facilities Canada-wide. I am proud that this $440,000 investment will benefit the citizens of my riding and the Québec City region as a whole,” she added.
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 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 under 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 the Government of Canada's Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program .
About the Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program
The Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program, part of Canada's Economic Action Plan adopted in January 2009, is intended to stimulate immediate economic recovery and reduce the short-term impact 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 .
About the Fonds pour le développement du sport et de l'activité physique
The Fonds pour le développement du sport et de l'activité physique was established by the Government of Quebec to provide the province's regions with better access to new and improved sports facilities in order to promote healthier lifestyles among their residents. For further details on this fund, visit www.mels.gouv.qc.ca .
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Tamara Davis
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
Rébecca Salesse
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Josée Verner
Tel.: 418-648-2430
Tel.: 418-559-7779
