Ottawa to provide $10M for 11 projects in the Gaspé Peninsula
Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist
Bonaventure: – The federal government is granting $10.1 million to 11 businesses and organizations in the Gaspé Peninsula to support their development, resulting in total investments of $86.5 million.
“When we look at the Gaspésie promoters, people who work very hard for economic development and producing wealth in the Gaspésie, we see how dynamic, job-creating and diversified our businesses are in the territory. This is positive for a region like ours,” said Diane Lebouthillier, Member of Parliament for the Gaspé Peninsula and the Magdalen Islands, and Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, who made the announcement during a press briefing on January 10 in Bonaventure.
The Bioparc de la Gaspésie in Bonaventure receives the largest share, with $2.7 million non-refundable out of a total investment of $7.8 million. The project aims to improve and enhance the tourism offering by implementing the first phase of its 2022-2026 Strategic Plan. This includes the overhaul of four ecosystems, the creation of new animal habitats, the expansion and renovation of the animal care building, the construction of an exhibition pavilion, the redevelopment of public spaces, the expansion of sanitary spaces, the development of digital and scientific content, as well as a marketing strategy.
Merinov receives $2 million to strengthen its innovation and technology transfer capacities by establishing the Merinov Innovation Hub in Grande-Rivière to better support the Quebec fisheries, aquaculture and bioresources industry. The spaces will offer five technological platforms related in particular to sustainable fishing gear, microalgae, the valorization of algae and co-products, a fish breeding room with modern effluent treatment technologies and ecophysiology and biology laboratories. The project is worth $31.2 million.
Groupe AEM Canada of Cap-Chat is also receiving $2 million to increase the production capacity of the start-up company that specializes in the manufacture of high-purity alumina. This $27.7 million project will allow it to acquire and install specialized equipment, expand a building to add clean calcination rooms and increase its working capital.
Cuisimer of Saint-Maxime-du-Mont-Louis receives $1.9 million to increase production capacity and improve the productivity of the seafood processing company. Cusimer will expand its plant, add lobster tanks, a lobster sorter, a conveyor and cooling and air conditioning systems. The project requires $7.5 million in investments.
Several smaller projects are also being supported through Canada Economic Development for Quebec.
Les Bateliers de Percé will receive $333,750 of $445,000 to modernize and expand its boat to increase capacity.
The Accès Micro crédit Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine project is being granted $252,000 non-repayable on a $965,000 project to promote the economic development of official language minority communities in the Gaspé Peninsula and the Magdalen Islands, by offering support, coaching and training activities to English-speaking entrepreneurs.
The Parc régional Petite-Cascapédia receives $250,000 non-repayable funding to create a zone for beginner downhill skiers and snowboarders, part of a total investment of $780,000.
The Regroupement des pêcheurs professionnels du Sud de la Gaspésie will be able to complete the technological development of the JOBEL national software package (electronic logbook allowing fishermen to transmit their commercial fishing data) and its marketing in the Atlantic provinces with a contribution of $201,000 from the federal government.
The Village en chanson de Petite-Vallée received $180,000 for marketing the 2024, 2025 and 2026 editions of the Festival en chanson de Petite-Vallée.
A sum of $144,500 is reserved to enhance the tourism offer of the Corporation de développement de La Martre by setting up historical interpretation trails of the La Martre lighthouse by creating and implementing an escape game in the lighthouse keeper’s house, including rental improvements, as well as by developing an artifact exhibition room, a $205,000 project.
Finally, Concept K will be able to improve its productivity and increase its production capacity with $125,000 out of $610,000 to acquire and install new production equipment and relocate the activities of the Sainte-Anne-des-Monts service point to a new location.
“The Gaspé Peninsula is going to be a part of Canada’s economic recovery and we see that with our promoters, we have to hold our own. We are a tourist region, a resource region. We are a region that innovates in fisheries. Investing in the region is profitable for the region, for Quebec and for Canada,” says Ms. Lebouthillier.
This announcement comes despite parliament being prorogued until the end of March. “That doesn’t stop departments from operating, working on projects and making announcements,” says Ms. Lebouthillier.
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