Grande-Vallée, Quebec, May 31, 2010 – The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, today joined Georges Mamelonet, Member of the Quebec National Assembly for Gaspé and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, acting on behalf of Laurent Lessard, Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy, in announcing that the Municipality of Grande-Vallée will receive $83,432 in combined government financial assistance under the Communities Component of the Building Canada Fund – Quebec for the renovation of its skating rink.
The project involves renovating and modernizing the municipal skating rink to allow it to be used for in-line skating during the summer season. The work will include replacing the boards and paving the surface of the rink with tar. These improvements will also allow the rink to serve for social and cultural activities, while giving citizens the opportunity to engage in physical activity within their local community.
"The project to renovate the skating rink in Grande-Vallée will serve the interests of local residents as well as businesses. By funding this initiative, we are seeing to it 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 and equipment 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.
"In supporting 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 Grande-Vallée, 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," added Georges Mamelonet.
Completion of this project will necessitate an overall eligible investment of $125,149. The governments of Quebec and Canada will each contribute $41,716 toward the work, for a total of $83,432 in combined government funding, while the Municipality of Grande-Vallée will invest the remaining third, or $41,717, 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:
Ève Cardinal
Special Assistant, Communications
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 819-997-3319
Annie St-Onge
Political Attaché
Office of the MNA for Gaspé
Tel.: 418-782-1667
