Montréal, Quebec, January 24, 2011 – Residents of Montréal's Ville-Marie Borough will soon be able to use the Camillien-Houde Arena facilities since the upgrade work is completed. 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 and Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, acting of behalf of Line Beauchamp, Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports.
This project involved replacing the skating rink's cooling equipment in order to make it safer and making repairs to the roof, exterior cladding and ventilation system.
"The Government of Canada is pleased to support this project because it will help improve the quality of life of the young residents of Ville-Marie while giving the borough's entire population access to safe and modern recreational facilities," said Minister of State Lebel.
Necessitating an overall investment of $4,474,074, this project was carried out thanks to $2,220,262 in government funding, with the Government of Quebec contributing $1,220,262 and the Government of Canada, $1,000,000. The City of Montréal invested the remainder of the financing needed for this project.
"The reopening of the Camillien-Houde Arena is good news for Ville-Marie borough residents as well as all Montrealers who enjoy ice sports. In addition, with the new cooling equipment, the facilities will be safer both for those who use the arena and for the environment," said Minister Lessard.
Nearly $37 million invested on Island of Montréal through the Canada-Québec Agreement
Many projects have been carried out or are currently under way in the Montréal region under the Canada-Quebec Agreement. The Quebec Department of Education, Recreation and Sports and the Government of Canada have awarded more than $14 million and nearly 10 million in funding, respectively, for 14 projects. In addition, the Department of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy and the Government of Canada have each provided approximately $6 million in funding for the realization of ten projects.
"The Recreational Infrastructure Canada program is instrumental in providing communities with modern facilities that promote the safe practice of sports and recreational activities among their citizens," added Minister of State Lebel.
The governments of Canada and Quebec signed an agreement to accelerate the execution of recreational infrastructure projects in Quebec. To that end, the Government of Canada will invest $76 million and the Government of Quebec at least that amount in recreational infrastructure projects. The funding announced today was awarded through the Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program and the Government of Quebec's Programme de soutien aux installations sportives et récréatives and Programme d'infrastructures de loisirs.
"Since 2009, the governments of Quebec and Canada have committed approximately $37 million for 24 projects to either build or renovate sports or recreational facilities on the Island of Montréal. Not only has this funding provided boroughs with first-rate facilities, it has also had a positive impact on the region's economy," noted Minister Lessard.
About the Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program (RInC)
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 fund, visit http://www.mels.gouv.qc.ca.
About the Programme d'infrastructures de loisirs (PIL)
Quebec's Programme d'infrastructures de loisirs is aimed at modernizing and renovating recreational facilities in order to provide communities with service infrastructure which, among other things, can help create community, cultural, economic, sports and tourism development. For further details on this program, visit www.mamrot.gouv.qc.ca.
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Sources:
Dave Leclerc
Press Secretary to the Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports
Tél.: 418-644-0664
Sylvain Bourassa
Press Secretary to the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy
Tél..: 418-691-2050
Benoît Fortin
Special Assistant, Communications
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development
Tél.: 819-997-3319
