Canada and Quebec support new tourist centre in Saint-Roch-de-Mékinac

SAINT-ROCH-DE-MÉKINAC, QC, Jan. 8, 2018 /CNW/ - The governments of Canada and Quebec recognize the key role of tourism infrastructure in developing dynamic and prosperous communities.

The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of International Trade and Member of Parliament for Saint-Maurice‒Champlain and Julie Boulet, Minister of Tourism, Minister Responsible for the Mauricie Region, and Member of the National Assembly for Laviolette, today announced that the governments of Canada and Quebec will each invest more than $60,000 in the construction of a new reception centre at Saint-Roch-de-Mékinac's municipal campsite.

This financial assistance comes from the New Building Canada Fund, Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component—Small Communities Fund. The Municipality of Saint-Roch-de-Mékinac will also contribute more than $60,000 for a total government-municipal investment of over $185,000.

The project involves building a more-than-3,000-square-feet reception centre that will accommodate 125 people in order to replace the outdated building currently in place. This new infrastructure will also provide a recreation room for campsite users.

Quotes

"The Government of Canada recognizes that strategic investments in public infrastructure support economic development and create middle-class job opportunities. The construction of this new reception centre at Saint-Roch-de-Mékinac's municipal campsite will offer visitors new recreational opportunities and help develop tourism in the Mauricie Region."

The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of International Trade and Member of Parliament for Saint-Maurice‒Champlain, on behalf of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

"The construction of a new reception centre at Saint-Roch-de-Mékinac's municipal campsite will increase its classification from three to four stars. In addition to meeting the needs of the regular clientele and visitors from surrounding areas, the campsite will become a more attractive destination for tourists from outside of Quebec, who are among its main users. These improvements will draw a new clientele and help enhance the appeal of the Mauricie Region as well as Quebec on the whole."

Julie Boulet, Minister of Tourism, Minister Responsible for the Mauricie Region, and Member of the National Assembly for Laviolette

"Today, I am pleased that we can officially announce this important project for the Municipality of Saint-Roch-de-Mékinac. Thanks to these improvements, the municipal campsite will be more attractive for the many visitors coming from all over Quebec. We thank the governments of Canada and Quebec, who are joining Saint-Roch-de-Mékinac in supporting this major tourism infrastructure for the region."

Guy Dessureault, Mayor of Saint-Roch-de-Mékinac

Quick facts

• The Small Communities Fund is a joint federal-provincial program coordinated by Infrastructure Canada in partnership with the provinces and territories. In Quebec, the Fund is administered by the Quebec Department of Municipal Affairs and Land Occupancy. The goal of this program is to provide financial support to Canadian municipalities with fewer than 100,000 residents to develop infrastructure that can enhance their cultural, sports, recreational, and tourism assets or safeguard public assets.
• The Government of Canada will provide more than $180 billion in infrastructure funding over 12 years for public transit, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, transportation that supports trade, and Canada's rural and northern communities.
• Budget 2017 allocates $21.9 billion to support social infrastructure in Canadian communities.
• Quebec's 2017–2027 Infrastructure Plan calls for $7 billion in investments in municipal infrastructure under the Quebec Department of Municipal Affairs and Land Occupancy. When combined with contributions from the Government of Canada and municipalities, this means $15 billion will be invested in municipal infrastructure in Quebec over the next 10 years.

Associated links

Government of Canada's $180-billion+ infrastructure plan: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/about-invest-apropos-eng.html

Smart Cities Challenge: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/cities-villes-eng.html

Federal investments in infrastructure projects in Quebec:
http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/map-carte/index-eng.html  

New Building Canada Plan: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/nbcp-npcc-eng.html  

Twitter: @INFC_eng 
Website: Infrastructure Canada

SOURCE Infrastructure Canada

Brook Simpson, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, Tel.: [phone]; Patrick Soucy, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Tourism and Minister Responsible for Mauricie, Tel.: [phone]; For information: Infrastructure Canada, Tel.: [phone], Toll free: 1-877-250-7154, Email: [email protected]; Anne-Sophie Lacroix, Coordinator, Public Affairs and Stratégies, Communications Branch, Ministry of Tourism, Tel.: [phone], ext. 3493; Media Relations Team, Communications Branch, Quebec Department of Municipal Affairs and Land Occupancy and the Department of Public Safety, Tel.: [phone], ext. 3746

Related Links

http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/