Iles de la Madeleine Develops New Tourist Attraction with Support from Government of Canada

CAP-AUX-MEULES, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - Oct. 31, 2011) - The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, today announced that the Centre des loisirs de Fatima I.-M. Inc. has been granted $387,950 in non-repayable funding to complete development of a new infrastructure for visitors arriving by cruise ship.

"The international cruise industry is a major economic lever for the Îles-de-la-Madeleine region, which is why the Government of Canada is pleased to support this initiative of the Centre des loisirs de Fatima," said Minister Lebel.

The Centre will use this financial assistance to complete Phase II of the L'Anse-aux-Baleiniers development project, an interpretation circuit on the history of whale hunting and its role in the growth of the municipality of Fatima. A hospitality pavilion will be built, which will help improve the tourism offering by giving cruise passengers an additional attraction that is sure to satisfy their expectations.

This funding has been granted through the Support Initiative for International Cruise Development Along the St. Lawrence and Saguenay Rivers provided for under Canada's Economic Action Plan.

For more on Canada's Economic Action Plan, see www.actionplan.gc.ca.

The Government of Canada recently unveiled its new Federal Tourism Strategy, Welcoming the World. To learn more, visit www.tourism.gc.ca/eic/site/034.nsf/eng/home.

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