Saint-Denis, Quebec, June 17, 2011 – The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, and Nathalie Normandeau, Deputy Premier of Quebec, Minister of Natural Resources and Wildlife, Minister responsible for the Northern Plan and the Gaspésie – Îles-de-la-Madeleine Region, acting on behalf of Laurent Lessard, Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy, took the occasion of today’s official inauguration of the new multi-purpose complex to announce an increase in joint government funding, up from $1,287,156 to $1,460,814, to the Parish of Saint-Denis under the Communities Component of the Building Canada Fund – Quebec for completion of the project.
This increase of $173,658 has been made necessary due to additional work, including the construction of a concrete slab and installation of a ventilation system for the skating rink.
“The Government of Canada is delighted that the Parish of Saint-Denis is equipping itself with the kind of modern facilities that are sure to improve residents’ quality of life economically, socially and culturally,” commented Minister Lebel.
“Our government has made health a priority and is very sensitive to the ripple effect that the new multi-purpose complex in Saint-Denis can create in terms of sports and leisure-time activities. By investing in these new infrastructures, it is encouraging citizens to be physically active in order to maintain their health and well-being. Our government would like this new complex to become a gathering place where residents can come to practice their sports as well as participate in the various sports, cultural and social events hosted there, while furthering economic and tourism development in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region,” added Minister Normandeau.
This project involved the construction of a 2,240 square-metre multi-purpose building to house a skating rink, a municipal library and a 300-person capacity community hall.
Completion of this project necessitated an overall eligible investment of $2,191,200. Taking into account the additional funding awarded by the governments of Quebec and Canada, each government has contributed $730,407 toward the work, for a total of $1,460,814 in combined government funding, with the Parish of Denis assuming the remaining third, or $730,406, of the project’s costs.
The Communities Componentof 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.
The contribution from the Government of Canada was 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 .
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Sources:
Benoît Fortin
Special Assistant, Communications
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 819-997-3319
Guylaine Sirois
Regional Political Advisor
Office of the Deputy Premier,
Minister of Natural Resources and Wildlife and Minister responsible for the Northern Plan
Tel.: 418-643-7295
Julie Boivin
Press Secretary
Office of the Quebec Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy
Tel.: 418-691-2050
Caroline St-Pierre
Communications Branch
Department of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy
Tel.: 418-691-2015
