Gatineau, Quebec, July 9, 2010 – Norman MacMillan, Quebec Minister for Transport, Minister responsible for the Outaouais region and Member of the National Assembly for Papineau, and Marc Carrière, Member of the National Assembly for Chapleau, acting on behalf of Laurent Lessard, Quebec Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy, and Jacques Gourde, Member of Parliament for Lotbinière–Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, acting on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, took the opportunity during today’s official inauguration of the Centre sporif de Gatineau to underscore the $20 million in joint government financial assistance the City of Gatineau received through Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF) to carry out this project.
The funding went toward the construction of a multifunctional sports complex which, located at the intersection of De la Gappe and De la Cité boulevards, offers a wide variety of technical programs to promote competitive sports, excellence and recreational activities for all. The centre is situated in a developing sector, neighboured by the Maison de la culture, Gatineau CEGEP, CLSC des Draveurs, Pierre-Papin building, office towers and seniors’ residences, and in close proximity to site of the future Viabus station.
“My colleague and I are proud to take part in inaugurating this community sports centre. Thanks to this project and its growth-generating spinoffs for the region, residents will now have access to a greater selection of sports and cultural activities to help motivate them to lead an active and healthy lifestyle. These new facilities will enable the City of Gatineau to host large-scale sporting competitions and championships while serving to foster local tourism growth,” stated Minister MacMillan.
“The Government of Canada is proud to celebrate the completion of this project, an initiative that will enhance quality of life for Gatineau residents. Infrastructure projects are essential to the future of both Quebec and Canada in that they help improve our standard of living in a very concrete and sustainable way while contributing to the economic growth and vitality of our regions,” added Jacques Gourde.
This project, which was carried out under component 3 of the MRIF, benefited from $20 million in combined government funding contributed in equal part by the governments of Quebec and Canada.
Through the MRIF, a cost-sharing initiative of the Government of Quebec and Government of Canada, $470 million in funding was made available to Quebec municipalities and non-governmental organizations. With the financial participation of the municipalities and organizations, the initiative allowed more than $700 million in infrastructure work to be carried out in the province. The Fund’s objectives were to improve community infrastructure, quality of the environment and citizens’ quality of life while promoting long-term economic growth.
In force up until March 31, 2010, the MRIF remains under the responsibility of the Quebec Department of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy. Canada Economic Development was mandated to deliver the federal portion of the Fund on behalf of the Government of Canada.
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Sources:
Ève Cardinal
Special Assistant, Communications
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 819-997-3319
Sylvie Descoeurs
Political Attaché and Director of Communications
Office of the Minister for Transport and Minister responsible for the Outaouais region
Tel.: 819-986-9300
Information:
Caroline Saint-Pierre
Communications Branch
Department of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy
Tel.: 418-691-2015
Catherine Vallée
Communications
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 514-283-0368
