Barraute, Quebec, April 13, 2012 – The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for Quebec Regions, and Pierre Corbeil, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Minister responsible for the Abitibi-Témiscamingue Region and the Nord-du-Québec Region, and Member of the Quebec National Assembly for Abitibi-Est, acting on behalf of Laurent Lessard, Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy, took the opportunity of today’s ceremony celebrating the completion of work at Barraute’s municipal arena to recall that the municipality received $643,184 in joint government funding to carry out the project.
“It is a proven fact that sports and recreation play an important role in promoting the health and well-being of the population. It is for this reason that the Government of Canada supports projects for the construction of public sports and recreational facilities like the Barraute arena,” commented Minister Lebel.
“The Government of Quebec is proud to highlight the completion of work at the Barraute arena. Its support to this important project for local and regional residents illustrates its commitment to improving municipal community facilities in a tangible and sustainable way while contributing to the health, vitality and future of Quebec communities. This more modern and user-friendly community gathering place is a valuable addition for the citizens of Barraute, who now have access to safe facilities for their community, recreational and sports activities,” said Minister Corbeil.
Built in 1976, the Barraute arena needed to be upgraded order to comply with Quebec’s new building code standards and thus ensure its sustainability. Among the improvements made were the construction of exterior walls, including insulation, vapour barriers, indoor and outdoor metal siding, installation of the building’s roofing, including the insulation and moisture barrier, the addition of interior separations, partition patching, replacement of the refrigeration system, enhancement of the plexiglass protectors, and installation of a new fire escape, as well as various other work.
This project, the total cost of which was evaluated at $964,776, was made possible thanks to $643,184 in combined government financial assistance contributed in equal part by the governments of Canada and Quebec, with the Municipality of Barraute assuming the remaining $321,592 of the costs.
These investments are managed through the Government of Canada’s Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program and the Programme Infrastructures de loisirs of the Government of Quebec.
The 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.
Established under the economic action plan adopted by the federal government in January 2009, the Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program was aimed at stimulating immediate economic recovery and reducing the short-term impacts of the global recession. It invested $500 million over two years in the modernization of our sports and recreational facilities across the country. 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.
For further details on the state of advancement of the Quebec Infrastructure Plan, visit www.infrastructures.gouv.qc.ca.
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Geneviève Sicard
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 514-496-1282
Julie Boivin
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy
Tel.: 418-691-2050
Aline Sauvageau
Political Attaché
Constituency Office of the MNA for Abitibi-Est
Tel.: 819-824-3333
Caroline St-Pierre
Communications Branch
Department of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy
Tel.: 418-691-2015
