Québec, Quebec, June 28, 2011 – Acting on behalf of Line Beauchamp, Quebec Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports, Michel Pigeon, Member of the National Assembly for Charlesbourg, today officially inaugurated the new artificial turf soccer-football field in Parc de la Chanterelle in Québec’s Val-Bélair sector. The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, who was unable to attend today’s ceremony, hailed the completion of this major infrastructure project.
“This new field, which is safer, well lit and better suited to the Quebec climate, will serve the interests of the entire community. It is sure to improve the quality of life of sports enthusiasts who use it to practice their favourite activities,” commented Minister Lebel.
“The installation of this illuminated artificial turf field in the Haute-Saint-Charles Borough will answer the pressing need for additional sports surfaces in the area. I hope the region’s residents make full use of this new facility and take advantage of the summer months to stay active,” noted Michel Pigeon.
The construction of this new field, which required an overall investment of nearly $1.8 million, was made possible thanks to a $431,347 contribution from the Government of Quebec and $431,346 from the Government of Canada, for a total of $862,693 in combined government funding, with the City of Québec assuming the remainder of the costs. The government funding for this project was granted through the Recreational Infrastructure Canada program and 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.
The two-year Canada-Quebec Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program Agreement signed by the two levels of government has helped accelerate the execution of various recreational infrastructure projects in Quebec. The agreement called for the Government of Canada to 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 thus create greater financial leverage, as is the case with the other infrastructure programs.
The economic action plan adopted by the federal government in January 2009 and under which the Recreational Infrastructure Canada program falls has helped offset the impacts of the global economic downturn. Government investments in recreational infrastructure have contributed to the creation of jobs and improved quality of life for Canadians. For more on this plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.
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, see www.mels.gouv.qc.ca.
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Sources:
Esther Chouinard
Director of Media Relations
Department of Education, Recreation and Sports
Tel.: 418-528-2265, ext. 3144
Benoît Fortin
Special Assistant, Communications
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 819-997-3319
E-mail: benoit.fortin@dec-ced.gc.ca
