Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Quebec, March 29, 2010 – Nicole Ménard, 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, today joined Jacques Gourde, Member of Parliament for Lotbinière–Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, acting on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, in announcing that Centres sportifs Salaberry-de-Valleyfield will receive $6,460,000 in joint government financial assistance under the Communities Component of the Building Canada Fund – Quebec for the renovation and expansion of Valleyfield Arena.
The project involves renovating and expanding the arena in order to, among other things, increase the building’s capacity from 600 seats to 1,500 seats and provide viable premises that meet modern standards and are better adapted to the needs of users. The work will include demolishing the interior rooms and external envelope of the building, enlarging the basement level for player changing rooms and building a new structure with mezzanine for the installation of additional seating. Salaberry Arena is the only rink in the region that operates year round. In the summer months, the facility is used for courses and practice time for many teams in the region. Moreover, as Salaberry-de-Valleyfield will be hosting the Jeux d’hiver du Québec—the Quebec Winter Games—in 2011, the arena, located in the heart of the city, will be the main hub of many of the events and activities.
“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 Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, 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 with which to face the challenges of the future,” noted Minister Ménard.
“This project to renovate and expand Valleyfield Arena will serve the interests of Salaberry-de-Valleyfield 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,” stated Jacques Gourde.
Completion of this project will necessitate an overall eligible investment of $9,690,000. The governments of Quebec and Canada will each contribute $3,230,000 toward the work, for a total of $6,460,000 in combined government funding, while Centres sportifs Salaberry-de-Valleyfield will assume the remaining third, or $3,230,000, 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
Policy Advisor
Office of the Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Montérégie region
Tel.: 450-672-1885
