Government investment of $2 million in Saint-Eustache for renovation of Walter-Buswell sports complex

Published on 10 mai 2010

Saint-Eustache, Quebec,   May 10, 2010  – The Honourable Senator Claude Carignan, acting on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, today joined Vincent Auclair, Deputy Whip for the Government of Quebec and Member of the National Assembly for Vimont, acting on behalf of Laurent Lessard, Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy, in announcing that the residents of the City of Saint-Eustache will soon benefit from a renovated complex in which to practice ice sports.

The governments of Canada and Quebec will each contribute $1 million toward the renovations, for a total of $2 million in combined government funding, while the City of Saint-Eustache will invest $2,254,320 in the project.

The planned work on ice rink 1 involves replacing the concrete slab, boards and Plexiglas protectors and, on ice rink 2, replacing the main piping system. As well, the building’s entrance hall and offices will be refurbished and the exterior façade, refreshed.

“Many of our recreational facilities have become outdated and are in need of renovation. But restoring public infrastructure entails costs that most municipalities are unable to assume on their own. That is why the Government of Canada introduced the Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program , through which $500 million will be invested over two years in the modernization of our sports and recreational facilities across the country. I am delighted to see this project come to fruition in that it promises to improve quality of life for the entire Saint-Eustache population,” explained Senator Carignan.

“Citizens of all ages will benefit from these new installations. I am pleased to see our governments joining forces with Saint-Eustache to upgrade recreational infrastructure in a way that will meet the needs of residents in a sustainable development perspective. These sports facilities will be getting a major facelift! In so doing, we are encouraging citizens to adopt a healthy and active lifestyle,” said  MNA  Auclair.

“The financial assistance announced today will enable us to modernize the Walter-Buswell complex which houses our two arenas. This announcement is timely since the arenas’ infrastructure dates back to the ’60s and ‘70s and is beginning to show its age. This project also serves as a reminder that physical activity is a priority for our city, and if this work helps to counteract the effects of the economic crisis, all the better,” noted Pierre Charron, Mayor of Saint-Eustache.

The governments of Canada and Quebec signed an agreement to accelerate the execution of recreational infrastructure projects in Quebec by March 31, 2011. 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.

Established under the economic action plan adopted by the federal government in January 2009, the  Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program  is aimed at stimulating immediate economic recovery and reducing 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 .

For further details on the state of advancement of the Government of Quebec’s  Quebec Infrastructure Plan,  visit  www.infrastructures.gouv.qc.ca .

- 30 -