Saint-Charles-Borromée, Quebec, July 13, 2010 – The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, today joined Guy Ouellette, Member of the Quebec National Assembly for Chomedey and Parliamentary Assistant to the ministers of Transport and Revenue, acting on behalf of Michelle Courchesne, Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports, in announcing that major improvements will be made to Casavant-Desrochers Park in the municipality of Saint-Charles-Borromée.
Necessitating an overall investment of $928,025, this project will be carried out thanks to $464,012 in combined government financial assistance contributed in equal part by the governments of Quebec and Canada, with the municipality of Saint-Charles-Borromée assuming the remaining $464,013 of the initiative's costs.
The work will involve building a permanent roof to cover the multifunctional outdoor skating rink in Casavant-Desrochers Park and equipping the facility with a lighting system.
"Many of our recreational facilities are in need of renovation and improvement. But restoring public infrastructure involves costs that cities and schools are simply unable to carry 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 come to fruition in that I know it will improve the quality of life of Saint-Charles-Borromée residents and meet the needs of the sports teams that play and train at Casavant-Desrochers Park," explained Minister of State Lebel.
"All of the sports infrastructure projects we fund are meant to give Quebecers safe and attractive places to get moving and stay physically active. I sincerely hope the citizens of Saint-Charles-Borromée take full advantage of their improved municipal skating rink," added MNA Ouellette.
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:
Cédrick Beauregard
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports
Tel.: 418-644-0664
Ève Cardinal
Special Assistant, Communications
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 819-997-3319
Valérie Sauvé
Regional Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports and Minister responsible for Lanaudière
Tel.: 450-689-5516
