Canada-Quebec investment of $3,409,236 in Saint-Léonard-d’Aston for construction of Richard-Lebeau multipurpose centre

Building Canada Fund – Quebec, Communities Component

Saint-Léonard-d'Aston, Quebec, March 2, 2010 – The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, today joined Laurent Lessard, Quebec Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy and Minister responsible of the Centre-du-Québec Region, in announcing that the Municipality of Saint-Léonard-d'Aston will receive $3,409,236 $ in joint government financial assistance under the Communities Component of the Building Canada Fund – Quebec for the construction of the Centre multifonctionnel Richard-Lebeau.

The municipality's project involves construction of a 30,000 square metre multipurpose centre that will bring under one roof an arena with a skating rink, a gym and several rooms, washrooms, a storage garage as well as various related services. The new venue will meet the needs of Saint-Léonard-d'Aston residents for sports and physical activities such as hockey and figure skating, the hosting of sporting events and improved training facilities for Quebec's athletes. The new Richard-Lebeau multipurpose centre will directly benefit the local and regional population.

“Construction of the Centre multifonctionnel Richard-Lebeau will serve the interests of Saint-Léonard-d'Aston residents and businesses alike. In supporting this project, we are ensuring that the population enjoys the high quality of life that has become our country's trademark. Indeed, the Government of Canada is committed to equipping every community with modern facilities to ensure citizens' health and safety. The renewal of public infrastructure is part of a broad action plan that will enable us to thrive and prosper in a healthy environment,” stated Minister of State Lebel.

“By participating in this project, the Government of Quebec is moving forward to ensure the province's municipalities have infrastructure that meets their unique realities while fostering sustainable development. By injecting new capital into the Quebec Infrastructure Plan, our government is looking to accelerate the execution of numerous infrastructure projects throughout the province, like this one in Saint-Léonard-d'Aston, in an effort to improve Quebecers' well-being, create jobs and promote a high-performance economy. In this way, we are leaving the municipality a legacy of quality infrastructure with which to face the challenges of the future,” added Minister Lessard.

Completion of this project will necessitate an overall eligible investment of $5,113,855. The governments of Quebec and Canada will each contribute $1,704,618 toward the work, for a total of $3,409,236 in combined government funding, with the Municipality of Saint-Léonard-d'Aston assuming the remaining third, or $1,704,619, of the project's costs.

The Communities Component of the Building Canada Fund – Quebec is a cost-sharing initiative aimed at funding infrastructure projects in communities with fewer than 100,000 inhabitants. These communities are thus able to use this assistance to improve infrastructure that is in major need of revitalization, including water treatment plants, water supply systems and cultural and sports centres.

For provinces, like Quebec, that have committed all of their funding under the Communities Component, the Government of Canada's Economic Action Plan provides for up to $500 million in additional funding for projects that will be completed by March 31, 2011.

In Quebec, a joint federal-provincial contribution of $232 million will be used to fund 106 infrastructure projects.

The contribution from the Government of Canada has been awarded through Canada's Economic Action Plan. To learn more about this plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.

For further information on the Government of Quebec's Quebec Infrastructure Plan, see www.infrastructures.gouv.qc.ca.

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Sources:

Simon Bachand
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 613-996-6236

Sylvain Bourassa
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy
Tel.: 418-691-2050