Industry Canada press release

Governments of Canada and Ontario act to renew recreational facilities in Ontario

            MISSISSAUGA, ON, May 11 /CNW/ - Local hockey rinks, swimming pools and other recreational community sites throughout Ontario will be eligible to receive funding for upgrades and repairs thanks to the new Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) program in Ontario and the Ontario Recreation program (Ontario REC).

            Tony Clement, Minister of Industry, and George Smitherman, Ontario's Deputy Premier and Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, announced today that the programs in Ontario are open for business.

            "Investing in recreation facilities ensures that families and future generations will continue to come together and enjoy local playing fields, arenas and pools for decades to come," said Minister Clement. "It will also help create local construction jobs and encourage economic activity right away."

            "Recreational infrastructure is a key building block for better, stronger communities," said Minister Smitherman. "Not only are we helping to stimulate the economy by creating local jobs, we're also building happier, healthier and stronger communities across Ontario."

            Municipalities, First Nations governments, counties, community organizations and other not-for-profit entities that have eligible projects that can be completed before March 31, 2011, are invited to submit their applications.

            In addition to $33 billion the Government of Canada has already committed to infrastructure, Canada's Economic Action Plan provides almost $12 billion in new stimulus funding over the next two years. This includes $500 million for the Recreational Infrastructure Canada program to support upgrading and renewal of recreational facilities in communities across Canada. The allocation for Ontario for this construction season is $68 million. Funding over the next two years will be allocated based on applications submitted from Ontario communities. Ontario's 2009 provincial budget - Confronting the Challenge: Building Our Economic Future - provided $32.5 billon in infrastructure investments over the next two years, including $195 million for recreation infrastructure projects.

            The governments of Canada and Ontario can each fund up to one third of a project's total eligible cost up to a maximum of $1 million each per project, with recipients providing the remaining balance.

            To maximize the number of recipients able to take advantage of the 2009 construction season, projects submitted before 5:00 p.m. EST on May 29, 2009, will be reviewed immediately with approved projects to be announced in June 2009. Projects will be selected on the basis of merit and construction readiness.

            Projects that come in after May 29, 2009, will be assessed and those approved will be announced in a timely fashion on an ongoing basis.

            For details on project eligibility and details on how to submit an application, please refer to the program backgrounders and website at www.rinc-on.ca.

LEARN MORE

Get more information about these two programs (http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/708.nsf/eng/home).

Learn how the Government of Canada is investing in infrastructure (http://www.actionplan.gc.ca/eng/index.asp).

Learn how the Government of Ontario is helping to build and revitalize infrastructure (http://www.mei.gov.on.ca/english/infrastructure/) across the province.

Backgrounder
---------------------------------------------------------Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) Program in Ontario

            Through the RInC Program Ontario, the Government of Canada has committed to supporting Ontario's communities and creating jobs through upgrades to existing recreation facilities over the next two years.

            The RInC Program in Ontario will provide a timely, targeted stimulus to the economy, through investments that will spur construction activity related to existing recreational infrastructure. Beyond economic stimulus and job creation, renewing, rehabilitating and modernizing our recreational infrastructure has the additional benefit of encouraging higher levels of participation in physical activity and community building.

            Canada's Economic Action Plan provided $500 million over two years for the Recreational Infrastructure Canada program to support upgrading and renewal of recreational facilities in communities across Canada. The allocation for Ontario for this construction season is $68 million. Funding over the next two years will be allocated based on applications submitted from Ontario communities. Projects will be selected on the basis of merit and construction readiness.

            The Government of Canada can fund up to one third of a project's total eligible cost up to a maximum of $1 million per project, with recipients providing the remaining balance.

Eligibility Criteria
--------------------

            Eligible applicants

• Municipalities
• Counties
• First Nations governments
• Community organizations
• Not-for-profit entities

            Eligible Projects

• Arenas
• Swimming pools
• Gymnasiums
• Sports fields
• Parks, fitness trails and bike paths
• Tennis, basketball, volleyball or other sport-specific courts
• Other multi-purpose facilities that have physical recreation activity as the primary rationale

            Eligible projects must also:

• Be for the rehabilitation or repair of existing infrastructure, including new construction that adds to or replaces existing recreational infrastructure capacity;
• Begin and materially conclude construction before March 31, 2011; and,
• Be incremental (that the work to be undertaken is an incremental construction activity that would otherwise have not been constructed by March 31, 2011, were it not for funding under the Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program in Ontario).

Application
-----------

            There is no limit to how many applications can be submitted under the RInC Program in Ontario. However, applicants who choose to submit more than one application should rank them in order of priority. Applicants must complete a streamlined application form, outlining how the project meets the requirements outlined above, and submit an attestation confirming the project is incremental. The application form is available online at www.rinc-on.ca. Applications should be submitted by email to infrastructure@ic.gc.ca or by fax at 416-973-6505. Should you require a paper copy, please call 1-888-300-9308.

Deadline
--------

            To maximize the number of recipients able to take advantage of the 2009 construction season, projects submitted before 5:00 p.m. EST on May 29, 2009, will be reviewed immediately with approved projects to be announced in June 2009.

            Projects that come in after May 29, 2009, will be assessed and those approved will be announced on an ongoing basis.

Selection Criteria
------------------

            Projects will be assessed on the degree to which they meet the eligibility requirements described above as well as the following selection criteria:

            -   Project readiness
            -   Incrementality
            -   Extent to which other funding is leveraged
            -   Public health and safety
            -   Energy efficiency
            -   Accessibility
            -   Percentage of funding that can be spent in 2009/10
            -   Extending the life of the infrastructure

            For more information, please refer to the Program Guide available on the web site at www.rinc-on.ca, email infrastructure@ic.gc.ca or call 1-888-300-9308.

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/For further information: (media only), please contact: Pema Lhalungpa, Office of the Honourable Tony Clement, (613) 995-9001; Amy Tang, Office of the Honourable George Smitherman, (416) 327-6747/