Important investments in sports and community infrastructure in store for the Portneuf region thanks to a joint investment from the governments of Canada and Quebec
DONNACONA, QC, April 21, 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 Municipality of Saint-Ubalde and the Town of Donnacona will be able to renovate and construct sports facilities that will enhance residents' quality of life while contributing to the growth of sporting activities and enduring community prosperity.
Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, on behalf of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, along with Michel Matte, Member of the National Assembly for Portneuf, on behalf of 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 $2.2 million for four projects in the Portneuf region. This financial support comes from the New Building Canada Fund, Small Communities Fund–Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component.
The project in Saint-Ubalde involves expanding the entry hall to the local recreation centre. The governments of Canada and Quebec will each invest nearly $74,000 in this project. The municipality will also provide close to $74,000, bringing the total government and municipal investment to more than $221,000.
Also, three projects will take place in Donnacona: the rehabilitation of four tennis courts, the construction of a community centre, and the construction of an aquatic centre. The combined cost of these three projects totals more than $6.5 million, which will be split equally into $2.1 million shares among the Town of Donnacona, the Government of Quebec and the Government of Canada.
These projects 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 these in Donnacona and Saint-Ubalde, that offer residents new opportunities to engage in a variety of sports year-round, and foster economic growth and the creation of well-paid middle-class jobs. "
Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, on behalf of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities
"By supporting construction, renovation and rehabilitation projects such as these, we are demonstrating our desire to make facilities available that meet the needs of local residents. These projects will enable residents of the expansive, beautiful Portneuf region to host and practice sports and physical activities on a regular basis."
Michel Matte, Member of the National Assembly for Portneuf, on behalf of 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
"We are proud to welcome today's announcement, which will enable the Town of Donnacona to develop new recreational facilities and rehabilitate its tennis courts. Thanks to the financial assistance provided by the federal and provincial governments, we will be able to develop and improve our recreational services. The realisation of these projects will benefit all of our citizens, including youth, seniors and the workforce, by encouraging them to adopt healthy lifestyles."
Jean-Claude Léveillée, Mayor of Donnacona
"This is great news for the Saint-Ubalde community. This contribution from both levels of government will help ensure access to the recreation centre is secure, while facilitating better accessibility for those with reduced mobility."
Pierre Saint-Germain, Mayor of Saint-Ubalde
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: Contacts: 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; Catherine Gosselin, Political Attaché, Office of the MNA for Portneuf, 418 268-3860; 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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