Federal-Provincial investment of up to 16 million dollars
Gatineau, Quebec, December 14, 2012 – The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, along with Quebec Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy and Minister of Transport, Sylvain Gaudreault, and Marie Malavoy, Quebec Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports, are using today's construction site visit of the future Branchaud Brière complex as an opportunity to highlight the joint Canada-Quebec financial contribution of up to 12 million dollars granted to Vision Multisports Outaouais for this project, as well as a financial contribution of 4 million dollars from the Government of Quebec.
"The residents of the Outaouais region will soon benefit from this new complex,"
said Minister Lebel. "Our government is pleased to invest in this project, which is already creating local jobs and which will contribute to the well-being of youth, families and residents of the region for many years to come by providing numerous opportunities to be active."
"By supporting the Branchaud-Brière complex project, the Government of Quebec is demonstrating its commitment to offer quality public infrastructure to all. The future sports complex is a good example of a project that contributes to social and economic development, specifically for the Outaouais region, attracting young families and at the same time, contributing to our youths' success in school. Through these future sport facilities, our government hopes that the population will rediscover the pleasure of being active and adopt healthy living habits"
, said Minister Sylvain Gaudreault.
The future Branchaud-Brière Complex includes two components. The first will include two North American-size skating rinks with seating for approximately 1,400 spectators. This component will also include other service areas: a snack bar, a sports equipment store, change rooms, a physiotherapy centre, a family restaurant, a conference room and administrative offices. The second component will include an indoor soccer/football field adjacent to the Polyvalente Nicolas-Gatineau, which will be an integral part of the new complex.
The Canada-Quebec joint contribution of up to 12 million dollars, granted to Vision Multisports Outaouais for the two skating rinks comes from the Major Infrastructure Component of the Building Canada Fund, a key program which targets infrastructure projects of national and regional significance. This program provides support for major infrastructure projects that contribute to a stronger economy, a cleaner environment and prosperous communities.
The Quebec government's contribution is made under the Quebec infrastructure plan, which has a budget of almost $44.56 billion for the period of 2011–2016 for projects throughout Quebec.
The financial contribution of 4 million dollars for the indoor soccer/football field comes from the Government of Quebec's Sports and Physical Activity Development Fund, which is part of the sports and recreational facility support program introduced by the Quebec Department of Education, Recreation and Sports. The aim of the Quebec government in creating this fund was to ensure that all regions benefit from new sports facilities.
It should also be noted that this new sports complex has the support of other financial partners, including Vision Multisports Outaouais, the City of Gatineau and the Commission scolaire des Draveurs.
For additional information about investments in infrastructure and to stay up-to-date with Web feeds, visit Infrastructure Canada's website.
For additional information on Quebec's infrastructure plan, visit the Plan québécois des infrastructures website (in French only). To find out more about the Quebec Sports and Physical Activity Development Fund, go to Ministère de l'Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport.
For further information about the Government of Canada's Economic Action Plan, visit the Economic Action Plan website.
Geneviève Sicard
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
613-991-0700
Marie-Eve Imonti
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy
514-873-2622
Mathieu Le Blanc
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports
418-644-0664
Caroline St-Pierre
Communications Directorate
Quebec Department of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy
418-691-2015
Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251
Toll free 1-877-250-7154
