Matane, Quebec, December 19, 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, today joined Georges Mamelonet, Member of the Quebec National Assembly for Gaspé and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, acting on behalf of Laurent Lessard, Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy, in hailing the official opening, last Saturday, of the Colisée Béton Provincial, formerly called Centre sportif Alain-Côté, a project toward which the City of Matane received $9,234,718 in joint government funding under the Communities Component of the Building Canada Fund – Quebec.
“The improvements to the sports centre in Matane will encourage the population to engage in physical activity and promote the hosting of sports and social events for the economic benefit of the Regional County Municipality as a whole,” said Minister Lebel.
“I am delighted to take part in today’s inauguration of the new sports centre in Matane. The Government of Quebec is proud to have supported this project, which promises major economic and tourism benefits for the city and region. This newly renovated sports facility will now be able to meet the needs of its many users, including local hockey teams, speed and figure skating clubs, and schools and early childhood centres in the region. It also provides the community with an essential gathering place for its continued vitality. It is an important contribution because it guarantees quality services while supporting sustainable development,” added MNA Mamelonet.
Located in the downtown core of Matane, the Colisée Béton Provincial comprises two modules. The project involved the renovation of its module 1, which includes a 17,000 square-foot North American regulation size rink, changing rooms, restaurant area, box office, technical areas and administrative offices, and the addition of an infirmary. Module 2 of the facility has been completely demolished and rebuilt to house an amphitheatre with a capacity of approximately 460 seats, and boasting a 20,000 square-foot Olympic-size ice rink. The only artificial skating rink in the Matane RCM, the Colisée Béton Provincial serves 11 municipalities totalling a population of some 22,000 inhabitants spread out over an area of 78 square kilometres.
Completion of this project necessitated an overall eligible investment of $13,852,077. The governments of Quebec and Canada each contributed $4,617,359 toward the work, for a total of $9,234,718 in combined government funding, while the City of Matane invested the remaining third, or $4,617,359 of the costs.
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 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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Pierre Floréa
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development
514-496-1282
pierre.florea@tc.gc.ca
Julie Boivin
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and
Land Occupancy
418-691-2050
Annie St-Onge
Political Attaché
Office of Georges Mamelonet, MNA for Gaspé
418-782-1667
