Three Bas-Saint-Laurent Snowmobiling Clubs Receive Funding From Government of Canada for New Snow Grooming Machines

RIMOUSKI, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - March 24, 2011) - Acting on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, Bernard Généreux, Member of Parliament for Montmagny–L'Islet–Kamouraska–Rivière-du-Loup, today announced that three snowmobiling clubs in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region have been granted a total of $308,348 in non-repayable funding through the Community Diversification program for the acquisition of new snow grooming machines. 

"Bas-Saint-Laurent is known as an exceptional site for the practice of snowmobiling. This financial assistance from the Government of Canada is aimed at fostering the growth of an important winter tourism industry and of preserving the jobs connected with the sector," stated Mr. Généreux.

This new equipment will allow the clubs to offer their members and all users safe and accessible trails that meet snowmobile industry standards. The three recipients of this funding are Club Les Amis de la Forêt Inc. ($103,750), Club de motoneige Vallée de la Matapédia Ltd ($98,743) and Club de motoneige du Témiscouata Inc. ($105,855), the latter of which will use the new equipment to maintain the 64 kilometres of new trails added to the region's network with the creation of Lac-Témiscouata national park.

The Bas-Saint-Laurent region has 16 snowmobiling clubs operating on its territory and approximately 1,700 kilometres of trails, some of which connect with the Trans-Québec 5 (TQ-5) network leading to trails in Gaspésie, Chaudière-Appalaches, New Brunswick and the United States. These organizations play an active part in maintaining and building the excellent reputation of the province's snowmobiling circuit, a network recognized worldwide for the quality of its 33,000 kilometres of trails crisscrossing the regions of Quebec. These three projects will result in a total investment of $616,696 in the Bas-Saint-Laurent winter tourism sector. 

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