Berthierville, Quebec, July 28, 2010 – The City of Berthierville can count on the financial support of the governments of Canada and Quebec to rebuild its municipal pool service building, today jointly announced the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, and Michelle Courchesne, Quebec Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports.
Necessitating an overall investment of $242,371, this project will be carried out thanks to $121,185 in combined government financial assistance contributed in equal part by the governments of Quebec and Canada, with the City of Berthierville assuming the remainder of the costs.
“Many of our recreational facilities are in need of renovation and improvement. But restoring public infrastructure entails costs that cities and schools are simply unable to cover 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 significantly improve quality of life for Berthierville residents”, explained Minister of State Lebel.
The project involves demolishing the existing service building, which was built in 1965, and replacing it with one that can more adequately meet the needs of the population of Berthierville and surrounding areas. Experts have determined that the existing building would require a major overhaul to make it more functional and bring it into compliance with current standards.
“Beginning in summer 2011, the citizens of Berthierville will be able to enjoy use of a new service building equipped with better-designed changing rooms and restroom facilities. Moreover, the new building will ensure access to persons with reduced mobility. If we are to encourage the greatest possible number of people to engage in physical activity, we have to provide them with safe and modern infrastructure”, added Minister Courchesne.
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:
Valérie Sauvé
Regional Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Education,
Recreation and Sports and
Minister responsible for the Lanaudière region
Tel.: 450-689-5516
Simon Bachand
Special Assistant, Communications
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 613-996-6236
