Maniwaki, Quebec, September 10, 2010 – The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Member of Parliament for Pontiac, acting on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, today joined Stéphanie Vallée, Member of the Quebec National Assembly for Gatineau, acting on behalf of Laurent Lessard, Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy and Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in announcing that the City of Maniwaki will receive $1,076,200 in joint government financial assistance under the Communities Component of the Building Canada Fund – Quebec for the construction of a multipurpose curling centre.
The City of Maniwaki wants to offer its residents cultural and sports activities conducive to a healthy lifestyle. The new 830 square metre multipurpose curling centre will comprise two curling rinks totalling 560 square metres as well as a reception and service pavilion including a locker room, a kitchenette and other services. The project also involves outdoor work which will include building a 44‑place parking lot, landscaping and beautifying the grounds. Once completed, the new curling centre will enhance the recreational infrastructure offering, helping to retain local curlers while providing a venue for summer activities such as ball hockey, badminton and volleyball. This initiative will benefit some 4,000 residents and the various curling leagues in the region.
“The construction of a curling centre in Maniwaki will serve the interests of local residents and businesses alike. In supporting this initiative, we are seeing to it that the population enjoys the high quality of life for which our country is famous. Indeed, the Government of Canada is committed to equipping every community with modern facilities to ensure citizens’ health and safety. The renewal of public infrastructure is part of a broad action plan that will enable us to thrive and prosper in a healthy environment,” said Minister Cannon.
“By participating in this project of a new multipurpose curling centre in Maniwaki, the Government of Quebec is moving forward to ensure the province’s municipalities have infrastructure that meets their unique realities while fostering sustainable development. By injecting new capital into the Quebec Infrastructure Plan, our government is looking to accelerate the execution of numerous infrastructure projects throughout the province, like this one in Maniwaki, in an effort to improve Quebecers’ well-being, create jobs and promote a high-performance economy. In this way, we are leaving the municipality a legacy of quality infrastructure with which to face the challenges of the future,” added MNA Vallée.
Completion of this project will necessitate an overall eligible investment of $1,614,300. The governments of Quebec and Canada will each contribute $538,100 toward the work, for a total of $1,076,200 in combined government funding, with the City of Maniwaki assuming the remaining third, or $538,100, of the project’s costs.
The Communities Component of the Building Canada Fund – Quebec is a cost-sharing initiative aimed at funding infrastructure projects in communities with fewer than 100,000 inhabitants. These communities are thus able to use this assistance to improve infrastructure that is in major need of revitalization, including water treatment plants, water supply systems and cultural and sports centres.
For provinces, like Quebec, that have committed all of their funding under the Communities Component, the Government of Canada’s Economic Action Plan provides for up to $500 million in additional funding for projects that will be completed by March 31, 2011.
In Quebec, a joint federal-provincial contribution of $232 million will be used to fund 106 infrastructure projects.
The contribution from the Government of Canada has been awarded through Canada’s Economic Action Plan. To learn more about this plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.
For further information on the Government of Quebec’s Quebec Infrastructure Plan, see www.infrastructures.gouv.qc.ca.
- 30 -
Sources:
Benoit Fortin
Special Assistant, Communications
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 819-997-3319
Luce Farrell
Political Attaché
Office of the MNA for Gatineau
Tel.: 819-441-2626
