Notes for an address by

The Honourable Lynne Yelich
Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification

Funding announcement

Corresponding Document: News Release (2010-02-12)

Check against delivery

Thank you, Jack Dvernichuk.

Good afternoon, everyone.

It is a great pleasure to be here on behalf of the Government of Canada. Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the Government of Canada continues to take concrete, effective and targeted steps to stimulate and sustain our economy.  As of December 1, just ten months into this fiscal year, 97 per cent of the Plan has been committed.

Today, I am pleased to announce the Government of Canada’s support through the Recreational Infrastructure Canada program, for the Lanigan arena upgrades. With this funding, the Town of Lanigan will replace the ice plant here at the local arena. The upgrade in technology will improve the energy efficiency and lower the operating costs of this fine facility.

This investment of $77,500 is funded through the Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) program, or RInC as it is known. Over a two-year period, RInC is investing $500 million to improve recreational infrastructure in communities across the country.  And, as of December 1, 2009, more than 1,500 projects have begun across the country.

Working with other levels of government, we have dramatically accelerated the planning, development and execution of infrastructure projects, like this one, from coast to coast to coast. Many of our country’s recreational facilities were built to celebrate Canada’s Centennial in 1967.  It was a time of great national pride and enormous optimism for the future, so it seems fitting that we should re-invest in those facilities today.

However, RInC is just one of a broad range of initiatives announced in Canada’s Economic Action Plan. The Government of Canada is creating and protecting jobs, building infrastructure, easing the tax burden on families, supporting Canadians who have lost their jobs, helping threatened industries, and laying the foundations for our future prosperity.

And while we are already showing signs of recovery, the economy is the top priority. That’s why we are going to complete our Economic Action Plan, return the federal budget to balance once the economy has recovered, and build the economy of the future.

Together we are all working to build a stronger West for a stronger Canada.

Thank you.