Underfunding for sports infrastructure: Disappointment everywhere in the Quebec regions

Anger is building in many of the ice regions after most sports infrastructure plans submitted to the Quebec government were rejected.

• Read more: Funding for sports infrastructure: Aid to cities should be reviewed, several elected officials argue

• Read more: Funding for sports infrastructure: Lévis Mayor worries about two-speed Quebec

The mayors of several Quebec municipalities received a plain text two weeks ago saying their plan had been rejected. With a few exceptions, disappointment is widespread.

The Recreation, Sports and Outdoor Infrastructure Financial Assistance Program (PAFIRSPA) had a budget of $300 million. In addition to the $2.7 billion submitted for projects, this represents a clear signal to municipal elected officials about the need and outdated state of sports infrastructure in many cities.

Just sprinkles

Daniel Côté, former head of office of the Union of Municipalities of Quebec (UMQ) and mayor of Gaspé, analyzed the project in detail. He noted that out of 202 selected projects, in school and college service centers, more than 60 million dollars were provided by the government.

Then, $212 million went to cities, but a worrying three-quarters went to smaller projects worth less than $500,000.

“So it’s really a waste of time,” he laments. The government prefers to fund water sports and skate parks in villages rather than projects that serve wider communities.

The elected official has nothing against this type of project, but notes that there are already plans for them. “We were there to burn the envelope of big projects on smaller projects.”

Attracts the youth

In Saguenay, the upgrade of the Richard-Desmeules Stadium, Mont Bélu, Mont Fortin and the George-Vézina Centre, all four projects submitted by the city were rejected. Saguenay will still move ahead with renovating the stadium, but there are limits to its ability to pay.

“We need help from the government if we want to do something with our infrastructure, otherwise we’re not going anywhere,” laments Michel Thiffault, a municipal councilor in Saguenay and head of Saguenay’s Sports and Outdoors Commission.

Michel Thiffault, president of the Saguenay Sports and Outdoors Commission, discusses here with Voltgeurs players at the Richard-Desmeules Stadium. The city will move forward with the renovation project, but its other infrastructure needs funding, he argues.

Photo by Karine Gagnon

Very disappointed, Mr. Thiefold refers to the region as having five representatives elected from the CAQ. He would have expected to get at least one plan.

In Roberwall, the world capital of open water swimming, no swimming pool has been operational for a year. That’s nonsense, argues Mayor Serge Bergeron, whose city only submitted its semi-Olympic swimming pool plan in hopes of securing funding.

“Government must recognize the obsolescence of our infrastructure and develop a plan to meet these needs, while maintaining a plan for smaller projects,” said Mr. Bergeron insists. Because if there is an intention to squander such sums, we will never succeed.

Serge Bergeron, Mayor of Roberwall

Photo by Karine Gagnon

The city, which raised private funds and received support from fifteen surrounding municipalities, requested $13 million in funding from Quebec for the $19 million project. “We had a solid file,” underscores Mayer, who wanted to take advantage of the 70^e The edition of the International Crossing of Lake Saint-Jean, which begins on Saturday, will settle the matter.

“Over time, our young people who love swimming and do well leave Roberwall and go to another CEGEP to perfect their art in a quality pool.”

Like beggars

In Rimouski, Mayor Guy Caron also submitted a proposal calling for $9.5 million in funding for a $34.8 million multi-sports center. “We’re the only city with a population of 50,000 or more that doesn’t have this kind of infrastructure. We brought together private partners, we looked for partners,” he asserts.

Mr. Karen regrets it. “More broadly,” he argues, “we need to rethink the relationship between the different levels of government in terms of taxation. I remember Prime Minister Legault saying we are beggars, the government is forcing us to be beggars. […] We are very dependent […] It takes a fine balance.

For Vincent Bérubé, the mayor of La Pocatière, “It’s starting to look like Groundhog Day in many cases that go nowhere.” “It’s a fact that when you lose small services and infrastructure left and right, it will crumble,” says one who worries about the region’s appeal.

Vincent Perupe, Mayor of La Pocatiere

Photo by Karine Gagnon

La Pocatière bet everything on its multi-sport complex project, asking $6 million of the $10 million in Quebec for it. Mr. Berube wants to hear better from the government, a unanimous request from the mayors he met.