QUÉBEC CITY, QUÉBEC--(Marketwire - July 20, 2010) - On behalf of the Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of State (Sport), the Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of Natural Resources, and his provincial counterpart, the Honourable Michelle Courchesne, Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports, today announced a new agreement designed to promote sport, physical activity, and recreation programs for the province's Aboriginal youth.

"This agreement highlights the importance of partnerships in enhancing the capabilities of Aboriginal sport organizations and in encouraging the province's Aboriginal people to practise sport and lead an active life," said Minister Paradis. "Our Government is committed to the development of sport projects that benefit young people and Aboriginal communities in Quebec and Canada."

"The Government of Quebec is pleased to join with the Government of Canada to allow Aboriginal youth to adopt and maintain a physically active lifestyle," said Minister Courchesne. "Considering that practising sport activities regularly helps foster school success and increase young people's feelings of pride, self-confidence, and accomplishment, I heartily welcome the agreement that we are reaching today."

With this agreement, the Government of Canada is providing $50,000 to Quebec for the 2009–2010 fiscal year to hire sport and recreation coordinators and organize interschool games. This amount, which will be matched by the Government of Quebec, is in addition to the two governments' previously announced contributions of $3,804,960 for participation in sport activities in Quebec from 2008 to 2011.

The bilateral agreement on participation of Aboriginal people in sport activities is intended to strengthen provincial capacity-building programs and participation in organized sport activities.

The governments of Canada and Quebec believe that participation in sport strengthens people and gives them the opportunity to learn self-discipline, leadership qualities, and teamwork skills.

The Government of Canada is the leading financial supporter of Canada's sport system, while Quebec invests more than any other province in high-performance sport. The two governments hope to promote expanded practice of sport at all levels, as well as the adoption and maintenance of a physically active lifestyle among their citizens. With their respective programs, the governments of Canada and Quebec are supporting sport participation and excellence from the playground to the podium.

(This news release is available on the Internet at www.canadianheritage.gc.ca under Newsroom.)