Canada-Quebec investment of $7,094,218 in the Vallée-du-Richelieu for modernization of sports and recreational infrastructure

Building Canada Fund – Quebec, Communities Component

McMasterville, Quebec, March 8, 2010 – The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, today joined Nicole Ménard, Quebec Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Montérégie Region, acting on behalf of Laurent Lessard, Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy, in announcing that four municipalities in the Vallée-du-Richelieu Regional County Municipality (RCM) will receive $7,094,218 in joint government financial assistance under the Communities Component of the Building Canada Fund – Quebec for the modernization of their sports and recreational facilities.

  • Reinforcement of sports and recreational infrastructure at McMasterville Ensoleillé Park

In order to maintain the quality of facilities at Ensoleillé Park, the main gathering place for cultural, sporting and recreational activities, the Municipality of McMasterville needs to bring them up to standard, and to add equipment. The work involves retrofitting and expanding the existing building in addition to modernizing the aquatic equipment, including reconstruction of the outdoor pool and wading pool. The project also involves rebuilding the covered outdoor skating rink, installing a beach volleyball playing surface and a mini-soccer field, adding a new play area for children and various other complementary work. The new facilities will be accessible to persons with reduced mobility and will benefit the local and regional population alike.

Completion of this project will necessitate an overall eligible investment of $5,214,535. The governments of Quebec and Canada will each contribute $1,738,178 toward the work, for a total of $3,476,356 in combined government funding, with the Municipality of McMasterville assuming the remaining third, or $1,738,179, of the project’s costs.

  • Development of a recreational tourism hub in Vieux-Beloeil

The City of Beloeil’s project involves redeveloping the banks of the Rivière Richelieu in front of Saint-Mathieu Church located at the heart of Vieux-Beloeil. Within the framework of its sustainable development strategy, the City wants to develop this portion of the river bank by constructing a riverside promenade focused on recreational, tourism and heritage. Revitalizing the river bank will improve the quality of life of local residents by providing them with safe, quality rest areas. The new facilities will also encourage citizens to adopt a more physically active lifestyle.

Completion of this project will necessitate an overall eligible investment of $2,861,918. The City of Beloeil will invest a third, or $953,974, of the project’s costs, while the governments of Quebec and Canada will each contribute $953,972 toward the work, for a total of $1,907,944 in combined government funding.

  • Rehabilitation of Ozias-Leduc multisport park in Mont-Saint-Hilaire

Mont-Saint-Hilaire’s project consists of replacing a natural surface soccer field with a synthetic surface multipurpose sports field and upgrading various other existing sports facilities. High local and regional demand for playing fields is causing the infrastructure to deteriorate. With this project, Mont-Saint-Hilaire intends to enhance its contribution to the regional sports facilities offering and improve the existing fields.

Completion of this project will necessitate an overall eligible investment of $2,244,877. The governments of Quebec and Canada will each contribute $748,293 toward the work, for a total of $1,496,586 in combined government funding, with the City of Mont-Saint-Hilaire the remaining third, or $748,291, of the project’s costs.

  • Conversion of a skating rink to a multipurpose surface in Saint-Denis-sur-Richelieu

The project involves converting an existing skating rink into a 14,720 square foot multipurpose surface. The work includes installing a new reinforced concrete surface and new rink boards allowing for a higher quality ice rink more resistant to changes in temperature. With this project, the municipality seeks to increase use of its park by providing access to a surface that can be used year round. These improvements will directly benefit some 2,200 people.

Completion of this project will necessitate an overall eligible investment of $320,000. The Municipality of Saint-Denis-sur-Richelieu will invest a third, or $106,668, of the project’s costs, while the governments of Quebec and Canada will each contribute $106,666 toward the work, for a total of $213,332 in combined government funding.

“The project to modernize sports and recreational infrastructure in the Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM will serve the interests of its 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,” explained 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 these ones in the Vallée-du-Richelieu Regional County Municipality, 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 Ménard.

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

André Poirier
Political Advisor
Office of the Minister of Tourism and
Minister responsible for the Montérégie Region
Tel.: 450-672-1885