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Recreational Infrastructure Canada

New in Canada's Economic Action Plan

Through Canada's Economic Action Plan, the federal government has committed $500 million over two years to build and renew community recreation facilities across Canada. There are thousands of community recreational facilities across Canada, including arenas, tennis and basketball courts, and swimming pools. Many of these facilities were built in 1967 and are now in need of upgrading.

About the Program

Recreational Infrastructure Canada is designed to provide local economic stimulus, while improving the quality of community recreational facilities and promoting national spirit.

The $500 million provided will be used to fund projects geared to the rehabilitation and upgrades of existing facilities, or to the construction of new facilities that will either add to or replace existing recreational infrastructure assets and/or capacity. In addition to tennis, basketball, volleyball or other sport-specific courts, eligible project categories include gymnasiums, sport fields, parks, fitness trails, bike paths and other multi-purpose facilities that have physical recreation as the primary rationale.

Projects will be selected on the basis of merit and readiness. Projects receiving funding under the Recreational Infrastructure Canada program must complete construction by March 31, 2011.

Under the program, the federal government will typically fund up to 33 percent of eligible costs but may, by exception, fund up to 50 percent. The remaining funding will need to be sourced from other project stakeholders such as provincial or municipal governments, community organizations and the private sector. The maximum federal contribution to any project receiving funding under the program will be limited to $1 million.

How It Works

Proponents who have a construction-ready project meeting the criteria above were invited to submit a brief description of their project to the department or agency that is responsible for delivering the program in their region:

Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency for all Atlantic provinces
Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (for all of Ontario)
Western Economic Diversification for all western provinces
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada for all territories.

Who Is Eligible

Facilities must be owned by a local or regional government, a provincial or territorial entity, First Nations, counties, community organizations or not-for-profit private sector entities.