[Mannville] – Leon Benoit, Member of Parliament for Vegreville-Wainwright, on behalf of the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, announced today federal funding to strengthen economic opportunities in Irma. Funding for this investment is being provided under the Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) program, a major job creating investment from Canada’s Economic Action Plan.

“I’m pleased to announce our Government’s support for the Irma arena upgrade,” said MP Benoit. “Investments such as this will help put Canadians to work, encourage greater participation in physical activity and use of recreational facilities, and ensure that communities across the West have access to an array of recreational options we need today and in the future.”

Funding of $373,333 is being provided through Western Economic Diversification under the Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) program towards replacing the old roof on the Irma arena with a new steel-walled structure and improving the lighting, heating, insulation, ventilation and water supply.  This improvement will encourage healthy lifestyles and engage both residents of Irma and visitors to participate in the community’s recreational resources. 

“These projects are all critical infrastructure projects for these communities and I, and the members of our constituency, truly appreciate the investment the federal government is adding to the province’s investment to ensure these projects are completed,” stated Doug Griffiths, MLA for Battle River-Wainwright.

"The Irma Ag Society is excited to receive this funding which allows the opportunity to update the main structure of our arena”, said Brent Fischer Arena Project Committee Co-Chair.  “This will ensure that our present and future generations will have a facility in our town to continue to enjoy their participation in the sports, whether as a participant or a fan."
 
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.