Canada-Quebec Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program Agreement
Drummondville, Quebec, January 20, 2011 – More than $1.6 million will be invested in the expansion of the Centre communautaire Pierre-Lemaire and the development of an outdoor multisport complex in Drummondville. This announcement was jointly made today by the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, and Laurent Lessard, Quebec Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and Minister responsible for the Centre-du-Québec region, on behalf of Line Beauchamp, Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports.
"The Government was happy to lend its support to these two projects, initiatives that are sure to improve the quality of life of Drummondville residents by giving them modern and safe places to practice their favourite sports and activities," noted Minister of State Lebel.
Expansion of the Centre communautaire Pierre-Lemaire
The project involves enlarging the Centre by building a new gymnasium for the practice of badminton, basketball, and volleyball. The City of Drummondville will thus be equipped with a regulation dimension gymnasium for the benefit of residents. The gym will also host other sports, such as indoor soccer and ball hockey.
Necessitating an overall investment of $1,262,772, this project will be carried out thanks to an investment of $460,000 contributed in equal parts by the governments of Quebec and Canada, with the Centre communautaire Pierre-Lemaire and the City of Drummondville investing $402,772 and $400,000, respectively, in the project's costs.
Development of an outdoor multisport complex
A lighted synthetic-surface field and a service building will be constructed at the corner of Pelletier and Marchand Streets alongside the Jean-Raimbault school. The playing field will be used for soccer, football and track and field athletics. The eight-lane running track will be the only one of its kind in the Centre-du-Québec region.
Necessitating a total investment of $2,350,825, this project will be carried out thanks to an investment of $1,175,412 contributed in equal parts by the governments of Quebec and Canada. The Des Chênes school board is contributing $391,305, and the City and the CEGEP of Drummondville are each investing $391,804 in the project.
"The Government of Quebec is pleased to invest in recreational and sports facilities that encourage citizens to adopt and maintain a healthy lifestyle. These projects are bound to delight sports enthusiasts throughout the region. Drummondville will not only be equipped with a year-round gymnasium but also with a track and a synthetic-surface soccer-football field, known to be safer for players," stated Minister Lessard.
The governments of Canada and Quebec signed an agreement to accelerate the execution of recreational infrastructure projects. 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.
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:
Dave Leclerc
Press Secretary
To the Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports
Tel.: 418-644-0664
Sylvain Bourassa
Press Secretary to the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy
Tel.: 418-691-2050
Benoît Fortin
Special Assistant, Communications
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 819-997-3319
