Gérard-Couillard recreation centre to be modernized thanks to joint funding from the governments of Canada and Quebec
COATICOOK, QC, April 18, 2017 /CNW/ - The governments of Canada and Quebec recognize the importance of having good recreational infrastructure that encourages people to adopt healthy lifestyles, and contributes to making communities vibrant and inclusive places to live. Thanks to joint government funding, the Town of Coaticook will be able to upgrade the Gérard-Couillard recreation centre, which will enhance residents' quality while contributing to the growth of sporting activities and enduring community prosperity.
The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, and Member of Parliament for Compton–Stanstead, on behalf of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, and Guy Hardy, Member of the National Assembly for Saint-François, on behalf of the Honourable Sébastien Proulx, Quebec's Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports, Minister of Families and Minister Responsible for the Region of Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine, today announced that the governments of Canada and Quebec will each invest more than $1.1 million for upgrades to the Gérard-Couillard recreation centre. This financial support comes from the New Building Canada Fund, Small Communities Fund–Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component. The Town of Coaticook will also invest more than $ 1.1 million to bring the total government and municipal investment to more than $3.3 million.
The project involves replacing the refrigeration system, adding a first-aid facility, building and renovating the change rooms, and replacing the ice rink's boards and windows. Once renovated, this new sports infrastructure will promote healthy lifestyles among local residents, especially young people and students.
Quotes
"Recreational infrastructure helps make our communities places where families can have fun and get together. Our government is proud to be making investments, like the one we're announcing today in Coaticook, that offer residents new opportunities to engage in a variety of sports year-round, while fostering economic growth and the creation of well-paid middle class jobs. "
The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie and Member of Parliament for Compton–Stanstead, on behalf of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities
"By supporting renovation and rehabilitation projects such as this one, we are demonstrating our desire to make safe and accessible facilities available to local residents and help municipalities ensure the quality of their infrastructure over the long term. This project will enable Estrie Region residents to practice sports and physical activities on a regular basis, encouraging them to adopt active lifestyles."
Guy Hardy, Member of the National Assembly for Saint-François, on behalf of the Honourable Sébastien Proulx, Quebec's Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports, Minister of Families and Minister Responsible for the Region of Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine
"The Gérard-Couillard Centre is the common connection among all local sporting events from summer to winter. The Town of Coaticook is very pleased to be able to count on the support of higher levels of government and community partners to restore the arena. For my part and on behalf of the members of the municipal council, I would like to sincerely thank all the contributors."
Bertrand Lamoureux, Mayor of Coaticook
Quick facts
- The Small Communities Fund is a joint federal‒provincial program coordinated by Infrastructure Canada in partnership with the provinces and territories. In Quebec, the Fund is administered by the Quebec Department of Municipal Affairs and Land Occupancy. The goal of this program is to provide financial support to Canadian municipalities with fewer than 100,000 residents to develop infrastructure that can enhance their cultural, sports, recreational, and tourism assets or safeguard public assets.
- The Government of Canada will provide more than $180 billion in infrastructure funding over 12 years for public transit, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, transportation that supports trade, and Canada's rural and northern communities.
- Budget 2017 proposes $21.9 billion to support social infrastructure in Canadian communities.
Related links
For more information on the Government of Canada's $180‑billion Infrastructure Plan in the 2017 Budget: http://www.budget.gc.ca/2017/docs/plan/chap-02-en.html5
Federal investments in infrastructure projects in Quebec: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/map-carte/index-eng.html
The new Building Canada Plan: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/nbcp-npcc-eng.html
New Building Canada Fund, Small Communities Fund:
http://www.mamot.gouv.qc.ca/infrastructures/programmes-daide-financiere/nouveau-fonds-chantiers-canada-quebec-volet-fonds-des-petites-collectivites-fpc/
SOURCE Infrastructure Canada
For further information: Resource Persons: Marie B. Deschamps, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports, Minister of Families and Minister responsible for the Gaspésie-Iles de la Madeleine region, 613‑960-0664; Brook Simpson, Press secretary, Office of the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, 613-219-0149; Pierre Grégoire, Political attaché, Office of the MNA for Saint-François, 819-565-3667; For information: Infrastructure Canada, 613‑960-9251, Toll free: 1-877-250-7154, Email: [email protected], Twitter: @INFC_eng, Website: Infrastructure Canada; Pierre-Luc Lévesque, Communications, Department of Municipal Affairs, Land Occupancy, and Public Security, 418‑646-6777, ext 3746
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