Beauharnois, Quebec, Monday, March 29, 2010 – The André-Richard Arena will soon be modernized, today jointly announced 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, and Jacques Gourde, Member of Parliament for Lotbinière–Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, acting on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State of Canada Economic Development.
This project, the total cost of which is estimated at $3,939,653, will benefit from a government investment of $2,000,000. The governments of Quebec and Canada will each contribute $1,000,000 toward the work, while the City of Beauharnois will assume $1,939,653 of the project's costs.
The André-Richard Arena modernization project presented by the City of Beauharnois involves replacing the refrigeration system, installing a new lighting system for the skating rink and bleachers, enlarging the locker rooms, re-roofing and various other complementary work.
"These investments are excellent news for the citizens of Beauharnois, and particularly for the region's young athletes. This major recreational sports facility serves a great many people and it has become imperative that it be brought up to standard. As well, in conjunction with the City of Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, it will host the organization of the finals of the 2011 Quebec Winter Games. With these investments, the Government of Quebec is looking to encourage the citizens of Beauharnois and surrounding areas to adopt a physically active lifestyle by giving them access to quality infrastructure," explained Minister Ménard.
"Given the known benefits of sports on health and quality of life, it is clearly in the best interests of all Beauharnois residents that the André-Richard Arena be modernized. The Government of Canada has committed to investing $500 million over two years in the rehabilitation of our national public sports and recreational facilities. Awarded through the Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program, this financial assistance is open to all communities across the country," said MP Gourde.
The governments of Canada and Quebec signed an agreement to accelerate the execution of recreational infrastructure projects in Quebec over the next two years. To that end, the Government of Canada will invest $76 million and the Government of Quebec at least that amount in 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 Government of Canada's Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program and 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.
Established under the economic action plan adopted by the federal government in January 2009, the Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program is aimed at stimulating immediate economic recovery and reducing 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 created by the Government of Quebec to ensure all of the province's regions access to new and improved sports facilities in order to promote healthier lifestyles among their populations. For further details on this initiative, visit http://www.mels.gouv.qc.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
