As the pandemic has further emphasized the importance of having a healthy population, the Governments of Canada and Quebec are proud to support close to 200 recreational and sports infrastructure projects throughout Quebec. Thanks to these investments, Quebec municipalities will have easily accessible, modern and safe facilities, thereby putting into place the winning conditions for the practice of physical activities in our communities.

"Sports and recreational activities are essential to communities where people want to live, work and raise their families. To improve the health and well-being of Quebecers, the Government of Canada is funding 17 projects across the Chaudière-Appalaches region, including the construction of a covered ice rink in Saint-Apollinaire, creating local jobs and providing spaces for residents to enjoy for years to come. Canada's infrastructure plan invests in thousands of projects, creates jobs across the country and builds cleaner, more inclusive communities."

The Honourable Catherine McKenna, Canada’s Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

“More than ever, we are aware of the importance of being active. This is why we are implementing the means to enable Quebecers to be more active. Access to modern and quality recreational and sports infrastructure is a strong incentive to encourage the regular practice of physical activities. These projects will have concrete impacts on the quality of life of families and the vitality of our communities. I hope that, because of the investments we are announcing today, all citizens will have opportunities to enjoy the pleasure of being active.”

Isabelle Charest, Quebec’s Junior Minister for Education and Minister Responsible for the Status of Women

“The dynamic Chaudière-Appalaches Region deserves safe and modern recreational and sports facilities that meet the needs of families, athletes and the general public. Today, I am very pleased to announce these investments that will make it possible to equip the Region with unifying infrastructure while fostering the adoption and the maintenance of a physically active lifestyle for the entire population.”

Marie-Eve Proulx, Quebec’s Junior Minister for Regional Economic Development, Minister Responsible for the Chaudière-Appalaches Region, Minister Responsible for the Bas-Saint-Laurent Region and MNA for Côte-du-Sud

“I am pleased with this announcement, which will enable the Municipality of Saint-Apollinaire to improve its recreational and sports infrastructure. Easy and safe access to a variety of activities is essential to encourage the adoption of healthy lifestyle habits. This infrastructure is therefore an asset by bringing together ice sports and recreation enthusiasts and creating conditions conducive to the practice of numerous physical activities.”

Isabelle Lecours, Parliamentary assistant to Quebec’s Minister of Public Safety and MNA for Lotbinière-Frontenac

“The Municipality of Saint-Apollinaire has experienced strong demographic growth in recent years. The families who come to settle in our territory are looking for new sports and recreational services. This financial assistance for the construction of an indoor skating rink will meet this need by extending the ice time for skaters in the winter, in addition to making it possible to organize new outdoor activities sheltered from inclement weather the rest of the year. On behalf of my colleagues on the municipal council and the entire population, I would like to thank the governments of Quebec and Canada for this important funding.”

His Worship Bernard Ouellet, Mayor of Saint-Apollinaire

• Under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP), the Federal Government is planning to invest, between 2018 and 2028, over $7.5 billion in Quebec for projects intended for community, cultural and recreational infrastructure, green infrastructure, mass transit and infrastructure in rural and northern communities.

• The Government of Quebec’s Programme d’aide financière aux infrastructures récréatives et sportives (PAFIRS) exists within the framework of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) and the Integrated Bilateral Agreement (IBA), which aims to implement the ICIP in Quebec and establish the terms and conditions, obligations and commitments of the parties. The Program has an envelope of $294 million.

• The Quebec Department of Education is responsible for implementing the Recreational Infrastructure sub-stream of the Community, Cultural and Recreational Infrastructure stream, which is the subject of the IBA.

• Through the funding of construction, civil works, renovation, upgrading and redesign of recreational and sports infrastructure projects, the PAFIRS aims to support the availability of sound recreational and sports infrastructure in all regions of Quebec and increase the public’s access to such infrastructure.

Related products

• Backgrounder: Canada and Quebec invest in 17 recreational and sports projects in the Chaudière-Appalaches Region.

Associated links

• Investing in Canada Project Plan Map
• Federal infrastructure investments in Quebec
• Investing in Canada, Canada’s Long-Term Infrastructure Plan
• Programme d’aide financière aux infrastructures récréatives et sportives (PAFIRS – IBA)

Chantalle Aubertin
Press Secretary
Office of Canada’s Minister of Infrastructure and Communities
613-941-0660
Chantalle.Aubertin@canada.ca

Alice Bergeron
Press Secretary
Office of Quebec’s Junior Minister for Education
and Minister Responsible for the Status of Women
418-997-4093