Rawdon, Quebec, October 13, 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, announced today that the Société de développement des parcs régionaux de la Matawinie ( SDPRM) is receiving a non-refundable contribution of $130,000 that it will use for building a reception pavilion and a parking lot at Taureau Regional Park.
“With the Taureau Regional Park project, Matawinie is significantly enhancing its tourism offering, which will generate impacts for the local economy. The Government of Canada is proud to support the SDPRM, which is making a considerable effort to build a diverse economy in the region”, said Minister Lebel.
This project is part of the steps undertaken by the community to respond to the forestry crisis that has been affecting the region for a number of years. Matawinie’s 2010-2015 strategic tourism development plan identified Taureau Regional Park as one of the main attractions to focus on for supporting the development of the tourism industry. The planned enhancements will enable the Park to offer higher quality services to visitors and guide clients to suggested attractions and nearby tourism businesses.
The contribution from Canada Economic Development is awarded under the Temporary Initiative for the Strengthening of Quebec’s Forest Economies ( TISQFE).
In effect since June 2010, the TISQFE aims to help the communities affected by the forestry crisis diversify their economy to preserve their growth as well as to create and maintain jobs. Its objective is also to bolster the SMEs established in these communities in order to ensure their survival and sustainable development.
This past July 14, the Government of Canada announced its intention to allocate an additional $20 million to financially support Quebec’s silvicultural sector for two years (namely 2011 and 2012).
This measure is in addition to several others that the Government of Canada has taken over the past few months to combat the forestry crisis. Recall, among others, the Community Adjustment Fund, which was given a budget of $1 billion over two years to mitigate the impacts of this crisis, the Pulp and Paper Green Transformation Program, which was allocated a budget of $1 billion to enable businesses to start running environmentally friendly projects and, in partnership with the Government of Quebec, a contribution of $230 million for conducting forestry operations and restoring bridges and culverts located on multi-purpose roads in forest settings. The workers too received their fair share, considering the many government measures, the most generous in history, for assisting them during the economic crisis.
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Sources:
Marie-Claude Lemire
Communications
Canada Economic Development
Phone: 514-283-0306
Email: marie-claude.lemire@dec-ced.gc.ca
Pierre Floréa
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 514-496-1282
E-mail: pierre.florea@tc.gc.ca
