Rimouski, Quebec, June 21, 2010 – An artificial turf soccer-football field will soon be ready for use in downtown Rimouski, today jointly announced the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, and Claude Béchard, Member of the National Assembly for Kamouraska-Témiscouata, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Minister responsible for Canadian Intergovernmental Affairs and the Reform of Democratic Institutions, Deputy Government House Leader and Minister responsible for the Bas-Saint-Laurent region, acting on behalf of Michelle Courchesne, Quebec Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports, on the occasion of the kick-off of construction work on the site.
Necessitating an overall investment of $1,479,996, the project is being carried out thanks to $735,683 in combined government funding contributed in equal part by the governments of Quebec and Canada, with the City of Rimouski investing $544,313, Rimouski CEGEP contributing $100,000 and the Commission scolaire des Phares assuming $100,000 of the project's costs.
“It is a well-known fact that physical activity at any age is good for people's health and well-being. The construction on this new synthetic field is excellent news for the residents of Rimouski. Indeed, thanks to the involvement of all of the partners, the region's population will now have access to a modern, quality sports facility that encourages the practice of a diverse range of physical activities,” noted Minister of State Lebel.
The work will involve laying a synthetic surface over the existing natural grass sports field located near the Rimouski sports complex. The conversion of this field will make it possible to considerably move up the start of the playing season, extend the field's hours of use, reduce the amount of time needed to maintain the surface and bolster the City of Rimouski's chances of hosting large-scale events.
“This is great news for Rimouski because this field will be the region's first artificial turf surface. Soccer and football enthusiasts will thus be able to develop their skills on a more modern, better quality and safer playing surface. It is important for our government to promote the adoption and maintenance of an active and healthy lifestyle, and investments like this one show our determination to do just that,” added Minister Béchard.
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 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
Pascale Dumont-Bédard
In charge of press relations for the
Bas-Saint-Laurent
Office of the MNA for Kamouraska-Témiscouata
Tel.: 418-492-7730
Ève Cardinal
Special Assistant, Communications
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 819-997-3319
