Indian and Northern Affairs Canada: Economic Action Plan Helps Improve Recreational Facilities in the North

OTTAWA, ONTARIO, May 11 (MARKET WIRE) --
Upgrades and repairs to local recreational facilities in communities
across Canada's North will be made easier with the Government of Canada's
new Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) program.

The Honourable Leona Aglukkak, Minister of Health and Member of
Parliament for Nunavut, announced today on behalf of the Honourable Chuck
Strahl, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal
Interlocutor for Metis and Non-Status Indians, that the Northern portion
of RInC is now open for business.

"Investing in Northern recreational facilities will help our government
stimulate the economy, enhance local facilities such as community pools,
gyms and arenas, and contribute to the health and quality of life of
people in communities across the North," said Minister Aglukkak. "The
Recreational Infrastructure Program will help ensure that local families
can continue to count on and use their local facilities for decades to
come."

Canada's Economic Action Plan provided $500 million across Canada over
two years for RInC to support primarily the upgrading and renewal of
community recreational facilities in communities. Indian and Northern
Affairs Canada (INAC) will deliver the Northern portion of RInC.

An initial amount of $175 million, representing roughly one-third of
total funding available under RInC nationally, is allocated on a regional
per capita basis. The territories' share of that initial allocation is
$567,000. Organizations are encouraged to apply for more funding that is
available as part of the remaining national total of $325 million.

Under the RInC program, municipalities, First Nations, community
organizations and other not-for-profit or private groups that have
projects that can be completed by March 31, 2011, are invited to apply
for funding.

RInC's objectives are to provide an immediate, targeted stimulus to the
economy and help mitigate the impacts of the global economic recession by
increasing construction activity related to recreational infrastructure.
This program also encourages participation in physical activity and
community building by upgrading and repairing recreational facilities.

This announcement reinforces the Government of Canada's work to advance
an integrated Northern Strategy that will exercise Canada's Arctic
sovereignty, protect the North's environmental heritage, promote social
and economic development and improve and devolve northern governance.

BACKGROUNDER

Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) program in Yukon, Northwest
Territories and Nunavut

Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) is a national program announced
in Budget 2009, which provides a temporary economic stimulus of $500
million across Canada between now and March 31, 2011, to share the cost
of repairing, upgrading and expanding existing recreational
infrastructure in Canadian communities. RInC is delivered across Canada
by regional development agencies. Indian and Northern Affairs Canada will
implement RInC in the three Northern territories, until the new economic
development agency for the North is operational.

Projects approved under RInC must be completed by the end of March 2011.
For approved projects, the federal, provincial and territorial
governments will each provide one third of the total eligible cost, up to
$1 million each, with the recipient investing the balance.

Program Eligibility

- Eligible applicants
- Municipal and local governments, agencies, and territorial
entities that provide municipal-type services to communities
- Non-profit organizations
- First Nation governments, including Band or Tribal Councils or
their legally-designated representatives.

- Eligible Projects
- Arenas
- Gymnasiums
- Swimming pools
- Sports fields
- Tennis, basketball, volleyball or other sport-specific courts
- Parks, fitness trails and bike paths
- Other multi-purpose physical recreation facilities

- Eligible projects will also:
- Be geared to the rehabilitation or repair of recreational
facilities, including new construction to expand or replace
existing infrastructure assets or capacity;
- Materially conclude construction by March 31, 2011; and
- Be incremental (i.e. the project would not have occurred as
proposed without support from RInC).

Application

Applications for RInC funding in the North will be
accepted and reviewed until June 15, 2009.

Completed applications should be mailed, faxed or emailed to the
appropriate Regional Office contact.

For details on project eligibility and how to submit an application,
please visit the INAC website at www.ainc-inac.gc.ca

This release is also available in electronic format at www.ainc-inac.gc.ca

For more information, please refer to INAC's website at
www.ainc-inac.gc.ca.

Contacts:
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
Office of the Honourable Chuck Strahl
Nina Chiarelli
Press Secretary
819-997-0002

Copyright 2009, Market Wire, All rights reserved.

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