Saint-Modeste, Quebec, October 17, 2011 – Residents of the Regional County Municipalities of Rivière-du-Loup and Témiscouata can now benefit from the newly renovated Petit Témis bike trail, today announced the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, joined by Jean D’Amour, Member of the Quebec National Assembly and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Natural Resources and Wildlife, acting on behalf of Laurent Lessard, Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy.
“This is great news because the improvements to the Petit Témis bicycle path will provide local residents and visiting tourists with an opportunity to bicycle safely and to their hearts’ content,” said the Honourable Denis Lebel.
“I am delighted to see this project, long awaited by the community and Petit Témis cycling regulars, come to fruition. It is an important leg of the Route verte of which Quebec is rightfully proud. Over the years, the Petit Témis has become one of Quebec’s most popular cycling destinations, The trail’s route, notably along Lake Témiscouata and the Madawaska River, allows users to admire numerous natural attractions which give it its authentic charm. This renewed infrastructure is also a key part of the region’s recreational tourism landscape, contributing to the health of the population and the vitality of municipalities while satisfying the principles of sustainable development,” said MNA Jean D’Amour.
The project of the Corporation sentier Rivière-du-Loup/Témiscouata, the Petit Témis trail’s authorized agent, involved making repairs to 69 kilometres of cycling trails from the trail’s starting point at Rivière-du-Loup to its end in New Brunswick, through the municipalities of Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha!, Saint-Honoré-de-Témiscouata, Saint-Hubert-de-Rivière-du-Loup, Saint-Modeste, Rivière-du-Loup and Cabano. These improvements will ensure the viability of this bicycle path, a major tourist attraction for the area.
Necessitating an eligible investment of $2,435,009, this project was carried out thanks to $1,623,340 in joint government funding contributed in equal parts by the governments of Québec and Canada, with the Corporation sentier Rivière‑du-Loup/Témiscouata assuming the remaining third, or $811,669 of the project’s costs.
The funding for this project has been awarded through the Government of Canada’s 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.
Recreational infrastructure projects are funded by the Government of Canada and the Government of Quebec 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.
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 through the investment of $500 million over two years in the modernization of sports and recreational facilities across the country. Governement investment in this area will helps create new jobs and improve the population`s health and quality of life. 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 learn more about this initiative, see www.mels.gouv.qc.ca
For details on the advancement of the Quebec Infrastructure Plan, visit www.infrastructures.gouv.qc.ca
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Sources:
Pierre Floréa
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 514-496-1282
Email: pierre.florea@tc.gc.ca
Julie Boivin
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy
Tel.: 418-691-2050
