A Canada-Quebec investment of $13.18 million
Drummondville, Quebec, September 16, 2013 – Today, the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, and Yves-François Blanchet, Quebec Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment, Wildlife and Parks, Minister responsible for the Centre-du-Québec and Mauricie regions and MNA for Johnson, on behalf of Sylvain Gaudreault, Quebec Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy, Minister of Transportation and MNA for Jonquière, celebrated the launch of work on the Drummondville Exhibition Centre.
"Our Government is proud to invest in significant infrastructure projects like this one, as we focus on creating jobs, promoting growth and building strong, prosperous communities across Canada,"
said Minister Lebel. "By hosting countless meetings, conferences, and tradeshows each year, this facility will play an extremely important role in promoting local business development and in increasing tourism activity in the Drummondville region. By investing in this infrastructure, our Government is also investing in the future of the Centre-du-Québec region."
"I am very pleased with our government's support for the Société de développement économique de Drummondville. The exhibition centre project will allow Drummondville to provide modern facilities that are tailored to the needs of the region's exhibitors. There is no doubt that this project will have a positive impact on the Centre-du-Québec region by creating jobs and establishing a major economic hub for everyone in support of sustainable development,"
added Minister Blanchet.
This project by the Société de développement économique de Drummondville (SDED) will consist in building an exhibition centre including a lobby with a reception desk, lounge space and food services counter. Other work will be carried out, including the construction of a number of exhibition rooms on the ground floor, as well as a dining area, multipurpose rooms, administrative offices and a lounge area on the first floor. The exhibition centre, to be located at the site of the former Drummondville agricultural exhibition, will host trade shows and major events.
The SDED's primary mission is to promote trade, industry and tourism in the Drummond MRC. In addition to providing consulting services for business developers, the SDED organizes training activities and helps start up businesses.
The federal and provincial funding comes from the Major Infrastructure component of the Building Canada Fund, whose goal is to fund public infrastructure having a national or regional impact. The governments of Canada and Quebec are making maximum contributions of $6.59M each, representing joint funding of a little over $13 million for the Société de développement économique de Drummondville to accomplish this project.
Canada's Economic Action Plan 2013 is delivering a new Building Canada Plan to build roads, bridges, subways, commuter rail, and other public infrastructure in cooperation with provinces, territories, and municipalities. Thanks to the Government of Canada's leadership and our strong economic and financial fundamentals, the Canadian economy has recovered from the global recession better than most other industrialized countries. Canada has been a leader among G-7 countries throughout the recovery with more than one million net new jobs created since July 2009. The New Building Canada Plan, combined with other federal infrastructure investments, supports Canada's infrastructure advantage, a key enabler of economic growth and job creation.
The Government of Quebec's contribution to this project is being made under the 2013-2023 Plan québécois des infrastructures, unveiled in April. This 10-year plan provides for a total investment of $8.1 billion under the municipal infrastructure component. It will have a major economic impact on Quebec, creating or maintaining on average nearly 60,000 jobs a year. This plan signals a shift in investment in and management of public infrastructure. This new method will enable the province to assess needs prospectively in keeping with Quebecers' priorities, measure associated costs and make informed choices.
For additional information about federal investments in infrastructure visit Infrastructure Canada or follow us on Twitter at @INFC_eng.
For more information on the Plan québécois des infrastructures, visit Plan québécois des infrastructures (available only in French).
For further information on Canada's Economic Action Plan, visit Canada's Economic Action Plan.
Aussi disponible en français.
Marie-Josée Paquette
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs, and
Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
613-943-1838
Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251
Toll free: 1-877-250-7154
Marie-Eve Imonti
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy
514-873-2622
Catherine Salvail
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment, Wildlife and Parks
418-521-3911
Caroline St-Pierre
Communications Directorate Quebec
Department of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy
418-691-2015
