Anger is simmering in several regions of Quebec, where most of the sports infrastructure projects submitted to the provincial government have been rejected.
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Two weeks ago, the mayors of several Quebec municipalities received a brief notice informing them that their projects had been denied. With a few exceptions, disappointment is widespread.
The financial assistance program for recreational, sports and outdoor infrastructure (PAFIRSPA) had a budget of $300 million. However, projects worth $2.7 billion were submitted to the program. Municipal officials see this as a clear indication of the needs and the state of disrepair of sports infrastructure in many cities.
Just a sprinkling
Daniel Côté, ex officio president of the Union des municipalités du Québec (UMQ) and mayor of Gaspé, conducted a detailed analysis of the program. He observed that of the 202 projects selected, over $60 million was allocated to government entities, such as school service centres and colleges.
The remaining $212 million went to cities, but three-quarters of that funding was for small projects under $500,000.
“This is a truly scattergun approach,” he laments. “The government has opted to fund water games and skate parks in villages instead of projects that benefit larger communities.”
While Côté supports these types of projects, he emphasizes that other programs are already in place for them. “In this case, we’ve essentially used the large project funding on small projects.”
Attracting young people
In Saguenay, all four projects submitted by the City, namely the upgrade of the Richard-Desmeules stadium, Mont Bélu, Mont Fortin and the George-Vézina Centre, were rejected. Saguenay will still proceed with the stadium renovation, but the city’s financial capacity is limited.
“We need government assistance if we want to make progress with our infrastructure, otherwise we’ll go nowhere,” laments Michel Thiffault, municipal councillor in Saguenay and president of the Saguenay Sports and Outdoors Commission.
Thiffault notes with disappointment that the region has five elected officials from the CAQ party. He had expected at least one project to be approved.
In Roberval, the world capital of open water swimming, a swimming pool has been out of operation for a year. This situation is absurd, argues Mayor Serge Bergeron, whose city had only submitted its semi-Olympic pool project, hoping for funding.
“The government should recognize the dilapidated state of our infrastructure and establish a program to address these needs while maintaining a program for smaller projects,” insists Bergeron. “Because if the plan is to disperse the funds like this, we’ll never make progress.”
Serge Bergeron, Mayor of Roberval
Photo Karine Gagnon
The city, which had raised private funds and secured the support of fifteen surrounding municipalities, requested $13 million in funding from Quebec for the $19 million project. “We had a strong proposal,” emphasizes the mayor, who hoped to capitalize on the 70th edition of the Traversée internationale du lac Saint-Jean, beginning Saturday, to finalize the project.
“Over time, our young people who love swimming and who excel in the sport end up leaving Roberval and going to another CEGEP to perfect their skills in a pool that meets the standards.”
Like beggars
In Rimouski, Mayor Guy Caron had also submitted only one project, a $34.8 million multi-sports center for which a $9.5 million grant was requested. “We are the only city of 50,000 or more inhabitants that does not have this type of infrastructure. We had brought together private partners and sought additional partners,” he emphasizes.
Caron laments the era when the federal government contributed equally to the financing of such infrastructures alongside Quebec and the municipalities. “More broadly,” he argues, “we will have to rethink the relationship between the various levels of government with regard to taxation. I recall Premier Legault’s remark that we were beggars, and the government is now forcing us to be beggars. […] We are so dependent […] A better balance is needed.”
For the mayor of La Pocatière, Vincent Bérubé, “it’s starting to feel like Groundhog Day in many cases that don’t come to fruition.” “When we lose small services and infrastructure left and right, it’s a fact that things are devitalized,” says Bérubé, expressing concern for the region’s attractiveness.
