Government of Canada Invests in Wakefield Mill Inn Expansion


WAKEFIELD, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - Feb. 21, 2011) - Acting on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Member of Parliament for Pontiac, today announced $600,000 in repayable funding to the Wakefield Mill Inn for the construction of new rooms.

"The Government of Canada is pleased to support Wakefield Mill in its expansion project. The construction of a new 13-room building will improve Wakefield's tourism offer and accommodation capacity," said Minister Cannon.

The Community Adjustment Fund, part of Canada's Economic Action Plan adopted by the federal government, provides for the funding of promising projects such as this. The Wakefield Mill Inn and Spa is a resort located in two historical buildings, namely the old mill and forester James MacLaren's house.

This expansion project will bring the number of Wakefield Mill Inn rooms to a total of 40. The owners will also build a second solarium upstairs to better accommodate the needs of group clients. Total funding allocated for this project by the various partners amounts to $3.4 million.

"The project underway at the Wakefield Mill Inn will help increase tourist traffic. It's worth noting that the great qualities of this country inn add to the interest in the Hull-Chelsea-Wakefield Train packages," noted Minister Cannon.

Tourism, along with high technology, agri-food processing and the transformation of forest products, are considered promising growth sectors for the Outaouais. It is therefore in these priority areas that Canada Economic Development has decided to focus its development efforts in the region.

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

Canada Economic Development is online at www.dec-ced.gc.ca. Subscribe to the Agency's press releases at
http://www.dec-ced.gc.ca/eng/media-room/mailing-list/list.html to keep up with the latest news.

Contact Information: Canada Economic Development
Francois Belisle
Communications
819-825-3976
francois.belisle@dec-ced.gc.ca
or
Canada Economic Development
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Benoit Fortin - Special Assistant, Communications
819-997-3319
benoit.fortin@dec-ced.gc.ca