Building Canada Fund – Quebec, Communities Component
Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, February 25, 2010 – The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, today joined Nicole Ménard, Member of the National Assembly for Laporte, 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 City of Saint-Hyacinthe will receive $10,589,916 in joint government financial assistance under the Communities Component of the Building Canada Fund – Quebec for the construction of a recreation/aquatic complex.
Located in the Maskoutains Regional County Municipality (RCM), the City of Saint-Hyacinthe has a population of more than 53,000. The municipality's aquatic facilities, currently housed at the cultural and recreational centre, are in a seriously deteriorated condition and must be relocated to ensure the safety of users and meet the growing requirements of many aquatic disciplines, sports associations and schools, including through Quebec's Sports-études (sport-study) program.
The project presented by the City of Saint-Hyacinthe involves the construction of a recreation/aquatic complex on the lot adjoining the cultural and recreational centre where it will replace the OTJ Sacré-Cœur building which will be demolished. Covering an area of 3,716 square metres, the three-storey complex will house the aquatic facilities on the main floor, including an eight lane pool with two springboards, a recreation wading pool, a therapeutic bath, walkway, entrance hall and reception area. The building will also include multifunctional rooms, offices, training and warm up areas as well as a food court. Exterior work will involve landscaping and installing street furniture. By maintaining and adding to the aquatic facilities available in Saint-Hyacinthe, this project will significantly enhance the quality of life of the local and regional population.
"The recreation/aquatic complex to be built in Saint-Hyacinthe will directly benefit the city's residents and businesses. In supporting this project, we are ensuring that the population enjoys the high quality of life for which our country is famous. Indeed, the Government of Canada is committed to equipping every community with modern facilities to ensure citizens' health and safety. The renewal of public infrastructure is part of a broad action plan that will enable us to thrive and prosper in a healthy environment," explained Minister of State Lebel.
"By participating in this project, the Government of Quebec is moving forward to ensure the province's municipalities have infrastructure that meets their unique realities while fostering sustainable development. By injecting new capital into the Quebec Infrastructure Plan, our government is looking to accelerate the execution of numerous infrastructure projects throughout the province, like this one in Saint-Hyacinthe, in an effort to improve Quebecers' well-being, create jobs and promote a high-performance economy. In this way, we are leaving the municipality a legacy of quality infrastructure, a source of pride and prosperity for the future generations of Saint-Hyacinthe, Montérégie and Quebec," added Minister Ménard.
Completion of this project will necessitate an overall eligible investment of $15,884,875. The governments of Quebec and Canada will each contribute $5,294,958 toward the work, for a total of $10,589,916 in combined government funding, with the City of Saint-Hyacinthe assuming the remaining third, or $5,294,959, of the project's costs.
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.
For provinces, like Quebec, that have committed all of their funding under the Communities Component, the Government of Canada's Economic Action Plan provides for up to $500 million in additional funding for projects that will be completed by March 31, 2011.
In Quebec, a joint federal-provincial contribution of $232 million will be used to fund 106 infrastructure projects.
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 information on the Government of Quebec's Quebec Infrastructure Plan, see www.infrastructures.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
André Poirier
Political Advisor
Office of the Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Montérégie Region
Tel.: 450-672-1885
