The Club de motoneigistes Lac-Saint-Jean inaugurates the bridge built over the Rivière aux Écorces along the Trans-Québec #23 trail

The Government of Canada is providing funding for the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean organization

AMOS, QC, June 12, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED)

Communities need to focus on innovation to ensure their strategic diversification and develop sustainable regional competitive advantages. This is why support for community transition and diversification is a priority for the Government of Canada.

At the inauguration of the bridge over the Rivière aux Écorces, the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for CED, announced that the Club de motoneigistes Lac-St-Jean had been granted $400,000 in financial assistance, in the form of a non‑repayable contribution, to improve the quality and safety of the Trans-Québec #23 snowmobile trail, which runs through the Réserve faunique des Laurentides, by building a new bridge over the Rivière aux Écorces.

Created in 2011 as a result of the merger of three snowmobiling associations in the region, the Club de motoneigistes Lac-Saint-Jean promotes snowmobiling in the Lac Saint Jean area, where it maintains approximately 500 km of trails. The Club de motoneigistes also holds a relay in the Réserve faunique des Laurentides for its 2,200 members and for tourists who come to the Lac Saint Jean region to go snowmobiling.

The funding provided under the CED Quebec Economic Development Program (QEDP) has allowed the Club de motoneigistes Lac-Saint-Jean to design, build and install the new bridge over the Rivière aux Écorces. Trail #23, which links the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean and Québec City regions, is one of the main gateways to the region used by visiting snowmobilers from outside Quebec. Snowmobilers travelling along the trail have to cross the Rivière aux Écorces. Previously, they could only do so when the ice was at least 20 cm thick, which meant that the opening of the trail was dependent on weather conditions, and the crossing was sometimes dangerous, not to mention the fact that the groomer was too heavy to go on the river.

CED is one of the six regional development agencies under the responsibility of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development.

Quotes

"By supporting the Club de motoneigistes Lac-Saint-Jean, the Government of Canada is helping the organization to improve the quality and safety of community infrastructure for the benefit of snowmobiling enthusiasts, both local and those visiting the region. The latter account for 10,000 tourists from outside Quebec. This project will enhance the profitability and sustainability of tourism businesses in the sector during the winter season, thus benefiting communities."

The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister responsible for CED

"Canada Economic Development's support will allow us to better serve our clientele. I invite all snowmobilers to come and try out our trails and take advantage of the new bridge."

Daniel Simard, Director, Club de motoneigistes Lac-Saint Jean

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SOURCE Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions

Media Relations, Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, Tel.: [phone], Email: [email protected]