Ormstown, Quebec, May 10, 2010 – Des Érables Park and Lindsay Cullen Park in the City of Ormstown are soon to be renovated, today jointly announced the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, and Stéphane Billette, Member of the National Assembly for Huntington, acting on behalf of Michelle Courchesne, Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports.
This project is to be carried out with $22,206 in government assistance, contributed in equal parts by the governments of Quebec and Canada. The City of Ormstown will provide the remainder of the project funding, bringing total investment to $44,413.
The project involves bringing facilities up to standard and replacing play structures and swings in Ormstown’s municipal parks.
“Many of our recreational facilities are in need of refurbishment and improvement. But restoring public infrastructure involves costs that a municipality like Ormstown cannot afford on its 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 the project go forward because it will improve the quality of life of Ormstown residents,” stated Minister of State Lebel.
The play structures, for children aged 5 to 12, are known to help in the development of motor skills.
“I am happy to know that the facilities for children will be improved and that they will have even more reasons to get out, be active and keep fit. This is great news, especially for Ormstown’s young families,” said MNA Stéphane Billette.
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 Programme de soutien aux installations sportives et récréatives of the Fonds pour le développement du sport et de l’activité physique and the Recreational Infrastructure Canada Plan.
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 to the Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports
Tel.: 418-644-0664
Simon Bachand
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 613-996-6236
