Laval, Quebec, May 10, 2010 – The pool at Laval's Centre communautaire et sportif Jolibourg will undergo expansion and renovation, today jointly announced the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, and Michelle Courchesne, Quebec Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports and Member of the National Assembly for Fabre.
Necessitating an overall investment of $1,191,731, this project will be carried out thanks to $595,865 in combined government funding contributed in equal part by the governments of Quebec and Canada, with the City of Laval assuming the remainder of the costs.
The project involves enlarging the pool at the Jolibourg community sports centre, installing a one-metre diving board and adding wide tread, narrow riser steps to facilitate access for persons with reduced mobility. Moreover, a portion of the investment will be reserved for bringing the facility up to standard with regard to safety and water quality.
"Many of our recreational facilities are in need of renovation and improvement. But restoring public infrastructure entails costs that municipalities are unable to assume entirely on their own. That is why the Government of Canada introduced the Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program, through which $500 million will be invested over two years in the modernization of our sports and recreational facilities across the country. I am delighted to see this project move forward in that I know it will help improve quality of life for Laval residents," added Minister of State Lebel.
"Investing in attractive, functional and safe sports facilities is, in my view, an excellent way to encourage people to keep fit while building a stronger sense of community belonging and improving quality of life," stated Minister Courchesne.
These upgrades will be carried out in compliance with Quebec's regulation respecting public wading and swimming pools and regulation respecting safety in public baths.
The governments of Canada and Quebec signed an agreement to accelerate the execution of recreational infrastructure projects in Quebec by March 31, 2011. 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 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 through the Government of Canada's Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program.
About the Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program
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.
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 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.
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Sources:
Tamara Davis
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports
Tel.: 418-644-0664
Valérie Sauvé
Regional Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports
Tel.: 450-689-5516
Simon Bachand
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 613-996-6236
