Feds and province pool funding
---$3.5 million-plus for Outaouais recreational projects
On April 15, the Canadian and Quebec governments dedicated $3.5 million to finance sports and recreational infrastructure projects in seven municipalities across the Outaouais. Of the funding, $1.7 million will be dedicated to building an outdoor multi-functional aquatic basin at Jack Eyamie Park in Masson-Angers – subsidizing two-thirds of the project.
The pool is planned to be 1.2 metres deep and 20 metres long with a beach style entrance, including a tub with jets, a shaded terrace, and lights allowing the pool to be used at night. The project should be completed in 2022, barring any delays.
The money should also finance the following projects:
-Renovating and expanding recreational infrastructure for kids in Campbell’s Bay;
-Improving the PPJ Cycloparc in the MRC of Pontiac;
-Developing a multi-sports platform in La Pêche;
-Renovating and adding lights to parc Robert-Latour sports fields in Chénéville;
-Developing a multi-generational and multi-functional park in Grand-Remous;
-Installing a new roof on the multicultural centre in Déléage;
In total, the federal and provincial governments will be supporting around 200 sports and leisure infrastructure projects in the province - providing municipalities with modern and safe installations benefitting people who practice sports and leisure activities.
Speaking on behalf of federal minister of infrastructure and communities, Catherine McKenna, Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation MP Stéphane Lauzon said during a press conference on the same date, that the announcement was significantly positive for the region. With the pandemic, Lauzon said it was important for the federal and provincial governments to collaborate to support communities by enhancing their quality of life. He added that the investments should also have positive impacts in contributing to local economic recovery, since the new installations will create numerous new jobs in the region. Thrilled to announce such glowing news, Quebec minister of education, and Minister responsible for the status of women Isabelle Charest said the investments are set in stone. She added that it was important for investments to impact all parts of the province and include projects affecting people of all walks of life and that favour participation in physical activities, noting that there is still a lot of work to be done.
Calling it “fantastic for the entire region,” Québec Minister of families, and Minister responsible for the Outaouais Mathieu Lacombe remarked the high number of local recreational and sports installations that are in need of upgrading. Directly benefitting local residents with tangible results, Lacombe said the investment is something everyone can get on board with. “It’s an example of the possibilities that a joint program like this can make possible,” Lacombe said.
Achieving an important step in the right direction, Buckingham district councillor and President of Gatineau’s Commission des loisirs, des sports et du développement communautaire Martin Lajeunesse said the new pool at Jack Eyamie Park is a huge win for the city.
On top of multi-functionality, Lajeunesse said the pool will be multi-generational and should integrate itself with the surrounding seamlessly. In total, the pool project costs approximately $2.6 million, Lajeunesse said. Calling the investment important for improving local quality of life, Lajeunesse said that results from public consultation held in the spring of 2019 indicated that residents strongly desired more access to public pools. He added that a study conducted by an external consultative firm in October of 2018, concluded that the current pool was in unsalvageable shape and needed to be rebuilt. Since 2015, the federal government has invested more than $1.6 billion in over 1,100 infrastructure projects in Quebec.
The funding comes from the Quebec government’s Programme d’aide financière aux infrastructures récréatives et sportives (PAFIRS-EBI), which boasts a $294 million budget for the entire province. Charest said the program received 623 project submissions collectively valued at $1.5 billion. The program is supported by a collaboration between the federal and provincial governm
