Government of Canada Invests in Southwest Saskatchewan

November 05, 2009

From left: David Anderson, MP, Premier Brad Wall, former Swift Current Mayor Sandy Larsen at the Swift Current Arena.


Swift Current, Saskatchewan – David Anderson, Member of Parliament for Cypress Hills-Grasslands on behalf of the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, announced today federal funding to strengthen economic opportunities in Southwest Saskatchewan. Funding for these investments is being provided under the RecreationalInfrastructure Canada (RInC) program, a major job creating investment from Canada’s Economic Action Plan.

Recreational facilities are an important part of our community. These facilities brings us together as families, friends and neighbours to learn new skills, exchange ideas, get fit and have fun,” said MP Anderson. “Our Government, through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, is taking steps to reduce the effects of the economic slowdown.  The Recreational Infrastructure Canada program is providing timely targeted stimulus that will help put Canadians to work and enhance services to local families.”

The program is a joint initiative with the Government of Saskatchewan, and the municipal governments involved.  Each partner will fund 1/3 of the total project costs. Federal contribution in Cypress Hills-Grasslands includes:

• City of Swift Current - $400,000 – Upgrades to the Fairview Arena ( install concrete floor, upgrade dressing rooms, installing fire suppression system, add board gate system and install overhead door)
• Village of Hazlet- $ 234,629- Upgrade Arena (resurface rink ice surface, upgrade ice plant, install wind turbine to generate power for artificial ice plant)
• Town of Maple Creek - $200,720 Improvements to Centennial Park (improvements to baseball diamonds, skateboard park, tennis courts, basketball court and swimming pool, develop trail and other general improvements)
• Village of Vanguard – $100,500 Upgrade Swimming Pool (replace existing pool with more environmentally friendly pool, upgrade pool house to improve wheelchair accessibility)

Federal funding of over $3 million is provided through the Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) program as part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan.  The Province of Saskatchewan is investing more than $3.5 million, bringing the federal-provincial contribution to $6,529,408 on the total project amount of $11,046,122.

The Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) program will invest $500 million in recreational facilities across Canada over a two-year period. It will provide a temporary economic stimulus that will help reduce the impacts of the global recession while renewing, upgrading and expanding recreational infrastructure in Canadian communities. A total of almost $163 million in RinC funding will be invested across the four western provinces.

RInC is part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the Government of Canada’s multi-faceted stimulus plan that will ensure a quick recovery from the current economic downturn. Western Economic Diversification Canada is delivering the initiative in the four western provinces.

For information on Canada’s Economic Action Plan, please visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.