Government investment of $4,000,000 in Québec to renovate and upgrade Michel-Labadie and Patrick-Poulin arenas in Les Rivières borough
Canada-Quebec Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program Agreement
Québec, Quebec, March 12, 2010 – The Michel-Labadie and Patrick-Poulin arenas in the Les Rivières borough will soon be renovated and brought up to standard, today jointly announced the Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada, Minister for La Francophonie and Minister responsible for the Québec region, acting on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, and Patrick Huot, Member of the National Assembly for Vanier and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks, acting on behalf of Laurent Lessard, Quebec Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy.
- Michel-Labadie Arena
This project, whose total eligible cost is evaluated at $3,512,434, will be carried out thanks to a government investment of $2,000,000. The governments of Quebec and Canada will each contribute $1,000,000 toward the work, with the City of Québec investing the remaining $1,512,434.
The renovation and upgrade of Michel-Labadie Arena will involve replacing the refrigeration system, building a new mechanical systems room and redeveloping the existing room. The project also calls for the installation of a fire protection system and various complementary works.
- Patrick-Poulin Arena
This project, the total eligible cost of which stands at $3,990,582, will also be made possible thanks to a government investment of $2,000,000. The governments of Quebec and Canada will each contribute $1,000,000 toward the work, while the City of Québec will assume the remaining $1,990,582 of the project’s costs.
The renovation and upgrade of Patrick-Poulin Arena will involve replacing the refrigeration system, building a new mechanical systems room and redeveloping the existing room. The project also calls for the construction of a 373 square-metre building adjacent to the main arena building, the addition of two locker rooms with bathroom facilities and a refrigeration room, the installation of a fire protection system and various complementary works.
“The two sports infrastructure projects we are announcing today will help improve the quality of life of Québec residents. I am delighted to see these initiatives move forward in that they show the important role that sports and recreation play in Québec and in my riding. These investments are clear testimony of the concerted efforts being made by stakeholders to ensure that the region’s population has adequate infrastructure,” explained Minister Verner.
“These investments are excellent news for the citizens of Québec, and particularly for the region’s young athletes. These two arenas are major recreational sports facilities in the riding of Vanier and it has become essential that they be brought up to standard. With these investments, the Government of Quebec is looking to encourage the citizens of the Les Rivières borough and surrounding areas to adopt a physically-active lifestyle by giving them access to quality infrastructure,” added MNA Patrick Huot.
The governments of Canada and Quebec signed an agreement to accelerate the execution of recreational infrastructure projects in Quebec over the next two years. To that end, the Government of Canada will invest $76 million and the Government of Quebec at least that amount in recreational infrastructure projects carried out in cost-sharing partnership with municipal administrations or local organizations. These investments are thus expected to generate greater financial leverage, as is the case with the other infrastructure programs.
The funding announced today has been awarded through the Government of Canada’s Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program and the Government of Quebec’s Programme Infrastructures de loisirs.
The Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program, part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan adopted by the federal government in January 2009, is intended to stimulate immediate economic recovery and reduce the short-term impacts of the global recession. Government investment in this area will help create new jobs and improve the population’s health and quality of life. For more on this plan, see www.actionplan.gc.ca.
The Fonds pour le développement du sport et de l’activité physique was created by the Government of Quebec to ensure all of the province’s regions access to new and improved sports facilities in order to promote healthier lifestyles among their populations. More information on this initiative can be found at http://www.mels.gouv.qc.ca.
For further details on the state of advancement of the Quebec Infrastructure Plan, visit www.infrastructures.gouv.qc.ca.
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Sources:
Sylvain Bourassa
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land
Occupancy
Tel.: 418-691-2050
Michel Martin
Policy Advisor
Office of the MNA for Vanier
Tel.: 418-644-3107
Simon Bachand
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 613-996-6236
Rébecca Salesse
Special Assistant (Communications)
Office of the Honourable Josée Verner
Tel.: 418-648-3425
