Canada and Quebec support six sports and community infrastructure projects in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region

SAINT-ARSÈNE, QC, May 26, 2017 /CNW/ - The governments of Canada and Quebec recognize the importance of having quality recreational infrastructure that encourages people to adopt healthy lifestyles and contributes to making communities vibrant and inclusive places to live. Thanks to joint government funding, a new recreational centre will be built and five others will be renovated in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region, which will enhance residents' quality while contributing to the growth of sporting activities and enduring community prosperity.

Marc Miller, Parliamentary Secretary for the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, Jean D'Amour, Minister for Maritime Affairs and Minister Responsible for the Bas-Saint-Laurent Region, and Norbert Morin, Member of the National Assembly for Côte-du-Sud, today announced that the governments of Canada and Quebec will each invest more than $2.4 million for six projects to build and renovate recreational infrastructure in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region. This financial support comes from the New Building Canada Fund, Small Communities Fund—Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component. The affected Municipalities will also invest more than $2.4 million, bringing the total government and municipal investment to more than $7.3 million.

In Saint-Arsène, a community centre will be built. Each government will contribute almost $815,000, for a total of more than $2.4 million. This new building will include a multifunctional room, training room, change rooms and administrative offices (see annex for details).

The region will also benefit from five renovation projects in Saint-André, Saint-Pascal, Saint-Mathieu-de-Rioux, Saint-Anaclet-de-Lessard and Saint-Jean-de-Dieu.

This funding announcement is among three others made over the last few weeks in Rimouski, Témiscouta-sur-le-Lac and Mont-Joli. Altogether, more than $68.3 million is being invested in Bas-Saint-Laurent recreational infrastructure under this program.

Quotes

"Sports and community infrastructure helps build inclusive communities where families can have fun and get together. As well as helping residents maintain an active lifestyle, these projects will bring people together and contribute to the development of the Bas-Saint-Laurent region for generations to come. Our government is proud to be making investments that improve the quality of people's lives, while promoting economic prosperity and creating well-paying jobs for the middle class."

Marc Miller, Parliamentary Secretary for the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

"By supporting construction and renovation projects such as these, we are demonstrating our desire to make safe, accessible facilities available to local residents and help municipalities ensure the durability and quality of their infrastructure. All of these projects will allow Bas-Saint-Laurent residents to engage in regular sports and physical activities, promoting the adoption of active lifestyles."

Jean D'Amour, Minister for Maritime Affairs and Minister Responsible for the Bas-Saint-Laurent Region, on behalf of Sébastien Proulx, Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports, Minister of Families and Minister Responsible for the Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine Region

"It is important to improve and update sports and recreational facilities. Local residents will have the opportunity to discover or rediscover these facilities. Throughout the year, they will be able to practice several sports activities in these places. This investment demonstrates how wellness and quality-of-life are at the very heart of government priorities."

Norbert Morin, Member of the National Assembly for Côte-du-Sud

"As mentioned in the strategic plan put together after public consultations with residents and the organizations that use the community centre, the requirement for a new centre is more than necessary. Without a doubt, residents of Saint-Arsène welcome with open arms the government support, which will allow this long-awaited community project to take shape."

Claire Bérubé, Mayor of Saint-Arsène

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 proposes $21.9 billion to support social infrastructure in Canadian communities.

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 Backgrounder

Canada and Quebec support six sports and community infrastructure projects in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region
Investment of more than $7.3 million

New Building Canada Fund, Small Communities Fund–Provincial—Territorial Infrastructure Component

The governments of Canada and Quebec are each investing $2,447,459 in six sports and community infrastructure projects in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region. The municipalities will provide the remaining funding for a total government and municipal investment of $7,342,381.

List of new projects

Location	Project Name	Federal Funding	Provincial Funding	Anticipated Start Date
Saint-Pascal	Renovations to the Robert-Côté community centre	$1,075,473	$1,075,473	October 2, 2017
Saint-Jean-de-Dieu	Addition of a lifting device for persons with disabilities to the Jean-Claude Bélisle sports centre	$36,902	$36,902	August 7, 2017
Saint-André	Redevelopment of the playing fields at the recreation centre	$91,409	$91,409	June 1, 2017
Saint-Arsène	Construction of a new community centre	$814,177	$814,177	August 31, 2017
Saint-Mathieu-de-Rioux	Community centre upgrades	$384,490	$384,490	June 5, 2017
Saint-Anaclet-de-Lessard	Skating rink and skate park rehabilitation	$45,008	$45,008	June 1, 2017

These projects are in addition to the three projects already announced in the region:

Location	Project Name	Federal Funding	Provincial Funding	Anticipated Start Date
Rimouski	Construction of a sports complex	$12,849,630	$12,849,630	June 1, 2017
Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac	Expansion of the Jacques Dubé sports centre	$4,786,225	$4,786,225	June 2, 2017
Mont-Joli	Expansion of Centennial Stadium	$2,684,867	$2,684,867	April 2, 2018

Associated Links

For more information about the government of Canada's $180-billion+ infrastructure plan in Budget 2017: http://www.budget.gc.ca/2017/docs/plan/chap-02-en.html

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

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

New Building Canada Fund, Small Communities Fund:
http://www.mamot.gouv.qc.ca/infrastructures/programmes-daide-financiere/nouveau-fonds-chantiers-canada-quebec-volet-fonds-des-petites-collectivites-fpc/

SOURCE Infrastructure Canada

Contacts: Brook Simpson, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, 613 219-0149; Marie B. Deschamps, Press Secretary, Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports, Minister of Families and Minister Responsible for the Region of Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine, 418 644-0664; Marc Lapointe, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister for Maritime Affairs, 418-691-5650; For information: Infrastructure Canada, 613‑960-9251, Toll free: 1-877-250-7154, Email: [email protected], Twitter: @INFC_eng, Website: Infrastructure Canada; Pierre-Luc Lévesque, Communications, Department of Municipal Affairs, Land Occupancy, and Public Security, 418‑646-6777, ext 3746

Related Links

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