Building Canada Fund – Quebec, Communities Component
Lotbinière, Quebec, July 2, 2011 – Jacques Gourde, Member of Parliament for Lotbinière–Chutes-de-la-Chaudière and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services, for Official Languages, and to 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 Guy Ouellette, Member of the Quebec National Assembly for Chomedey and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Revenue and to the Minister of Transport, acting on behalf of Laurent Lessard, Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy and Minister responsible for the Chaudière-Appalaches Region, took the occasion of today’s official inauguration of the new multi-purpose centre to announce an increase in joint government funding for this project, up from $1,732,684 to $1,975,372, to the Municipality of Lotbinière under the Communities Componentof the Building Canada Fund – Quebec.
“Grander, modern and multi-purpose the new centre will benefit the community in and around Lotbinière. It is sure to improve residents’ quality of life in many respects―sports, social, community and cultural,” commented MP Gourde.
“I am delighted with the Government of Quebec’s participation in bringing this project to fruition in that it meets the needs of the local residents. By investing in these new facilities, the government would like to see the population make this new centre their own as a gathering place where they can participate in a variety of sports, cultural and social activities,” added MNA Ouellette.
This increase in funding was made necessary due to additional work, including the installation, in the building, of an energy-saving geothermal system.
The initial Lotbinière project involved the construction of a two-storey multi-purpose centre to replace the existing parish centre that had become antiquated and non-functional. The Municipality decided to invest in a project that would better meet the recreational and cultural needs of the population. In the new building, residents have access to a multi-use hall that can accommodate nearly 250 people and also serve as a gym. The centre also boasts several multi-purpose areas and rooms for meetings and community events.
Completion of this project necessitated an increase of $242,688 in government funding, bringing the total eligible investment to $2,963,059 under the Communities Component of the BCF-Q. Taking into account this additional funding, the governments of Quebec and Canada each contributed $987,686 toward the work, for a total of $1,975,372 in combined government funding. The Municipality of Lotbinière’s contribution also increased to $987,687.
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.
The contribution announced today by 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:
Benoît Fortin
Special Assistant, Communications
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 819-997-3319
Jean-François Coderre
Political Attaché
MNA for Chomedey
Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Revenue and to the Minister of Transport
Tel.: 450-686-0166
Julie Boivin
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy
Tel.: 418-691-2050
Émilie Lord
Communications Division
Department of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy
Tel.: 418-691-2015
