THETFORD MINES, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - March 14, 2011) - The Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of Natural Resources, today announced the awarding of $70,000 in non-repayable funding to Club motoneige Beauce-Frontenac Inc. Granted through the Community Diversification program, this financial assistance will serve for the acquisition of a snow grooming machine.

"In funding this project, the Government of Canada is promoting the growth of the snowmobiling industry in Chaudière-Appalaches while contributing to the structuring of the region's tourism offering," stated Minister Paradis.

Club motoneige Beauce-Frontenac oversees the maintenance of some 350 kilometres of snowmobile trails, 130 kilometres of which are part of the Trans-Québec network. The purchase of this equipment is seen as essential to the organization's ability to guarantee users safe and accessible trails that meet snowmobile industry standards. The Chaudière-Appalaches region is recognized as a prime location for the practice of snowmobiling.

This project of the Club motoneige Beauce-Frontenac is expected to help the Chaudière-Appalaches region, which has 24 snowmobiling clubs operating on its territory, consolidate the gains it has already made in the sector. Indeed, organized snowmobiling generated some $37 million in economic spinoffs for the region in the 2008-2009 season, benefiting such local businesses as hotels, restaurants and equipment rental shops, among others. Moreover, the Club will be contributing to the efforts deployed by regional economic stakeholders to promote and strengthen the positive reputation the province's network of 33,500 kilometres of snowmobile trails enjoys on markets outside Quebec.

Tourism development is a priority for the Government of Canada, which set aside $40 million in its economic action plan to support the Canadian Tourism Commission in its efforts to successfully promote the country's industry on national and international markets.

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