Club de motoneige Seigneurie Joly Inc. Receives $89,000 in Funding from Government of Canada for New Snow Grooming Machine

SAINT-ÉDOUARD-DE-LOTBINIÈRE, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - Jan. 23, 2011) - Acting on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, Jacques Gourde, Member of Parliament for Lotbinière–Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, today announced the awarding of $89,000 in non-repayable financial assistance to Club de motoneige Seigneurie Joly Inc. through the Community Diversification program for the acquisition of a new snow grooming machine.

"Lotbinière offers an ideal territory for snowmobiling. By supporting the snowmobiling sector, the Government of Canada is contributing to its growth while helping to build the tourism offering in our communities," explained Mr. Gourde.

The Club de motoneige Seigneurie Joly oversees the maintenance of some 120 kilometres of snowmobile trails, 50 kilometres of which are part of the Trans-Québec network. The purchase of this equipment is seen as essential to the organization's ability to guarantee users safe and accessible trails that meet snowmobile industry standards.

This project of the Club de motoneige Seigneurie Joly is expected to help the Chaudière-Appalaches region, which has 24 snowmobiling clubs operating on its territory, consolidate the gains it has already made in the sector. Indeed, organized snowmobiling generated some $37 million in economic spinoffs for the region in the 2008-2009 season, benefiting such local businesses as hotels, restaurants and equipment rental shops, among others. Moreover, the Club will be contributing to the efforts deployed by regional economic stakeholders to promote and strengthen the positive reputation the province's network of 33,500 kilometres of snowmobile trails enjoys on markets outside Quebec, particularly in the New England states.

Tourism development is a priority for the Government of Canada, which set aside $40 million in its economic action plan to support the Canadian Tourism Commission in its efforts to successfully promote the country's industry on national and international markets.

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