Government of Canada grants $609,204 in funding to position the Bas-Saint-Laurent as a prime winter destination
Rimouski, Quebec, February 27, 2010 – Acting on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, Bernard Généreux, Member of Parliament for Montmagny–L’Islet–Kamouraska–Rivière-du-Loup, today announced that six Bas-Saint-Laurent snowmobile clubs have been awarded a total of $609,204 in non-repayable funding. This financial assistance will be used to acquire new snow grooming machines to maintain the region’s snowmobile trails, thereby positioning the region as a prime winter destination.
“Winter tourism has a tremendously positive impact in several Quebec regions known for the exceptional quantity and quality of their snow conditions. The snowmobile industry alone generates economic spinoffs of $21 million just in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region. The Government of Canada’s financial support for these projects aims to increase the drawing power of Quebec’s communities, promote a strong winter tourism industry and maintain jobs in the sector,” explained MP Bernard Généreux.
This funding will enable the snowmobile clubs to replace snow-grooming machines that have outlived their usefulness with new, high-performance trail groomers and ensure users a safe, accessible network in line with snowmobile industry standards. A portion of the 1,700 or so kilometres of trails crisscrossing the Bas-Saint-Laurent is part of the Trans-Québec 5 (TQ-5) network and provides a gateway to the Gaspésie, Chaudières-Appalaches, New Brunswick and United States circuits.
The snowmobile clubs operating in the Bas-Saint-Laurent play an active role in maintaining and furthering the international reputation of the network of 33,000 kilometres of trails spanning the province.
Completion of these projects represents an overall investment of $1,038,408. This financial assistance has been awarded through the Community Diversification program established by Canada Economic Development.
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Sources:
Claudie Lamontagne
Communications
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 418-722-3280 or 1-800-463-9073
E-mail: claudie.lamontagne@dec-ced.gc.ca
Simon Bachand
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 613-996-6236
E-mail: simon.bachand@dec-ced.gc.ca
