The new version of the Regional Air Access Program (PAAR) delights sports and school organizations on the Lower North Shore. For good reason, it will cost less to fly to participate in practices and competitions for young athletes from isolated communities.
Starting February 3, travelers from remote areas will benefit from a discount of 50% to 85% on their tickets. This measure replaces the $500 notes, launched in 2022.
The villages of the Basse-Côte-Nord are eligible for the maximum discount, which delights Érica Joncas. Mother of two children aged 12 and 17 and coach, last February she decried the exclusion of young athletes from competitions due to the lack of financial support for air transport.
Now that intraregional flights will be eligible for the government discount, Érica Joncas expects the financial burden on parents to be reduced.
This is one of the best situations I could have dreamed of. It really met our expectations.
The coastal team
which brings together student-athletes from all over the Lower North Shore, and sometimes even from Anticosti Island, will be able to hold its practices more easily, she believes.
It was always problematic, because young people who are not connected by road, say Harrington Harbour, had to take the helicopter and the plane. It cost 1500 dollars per plane ticket [avant le remboursement de la MRC].
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Travel for sports teams from the Lower North Shore may be covered by the CSS du Littoral or the MRC du Golfe-du-Saint-Laurent. (Archive photo)
Photo: Courtesy Erica Joncas
Less paperwork
Another notable change to “PAAR 2.0”: non-profit organizations and school service centers (CSS) will be able to benefit from discounts.
No more need for accounting acrobatics at the end of which parents pay the entire ticket for their young athletes and wait for 60% reimbursement from Quebec, as is currently the case.
It will be very easy
said straight away the administrator of the CSS du Littoral, Marc-André Masse.
We will not put this burden on parents to buy tickets which are very expensive. We’re talking about around $1,500 to get to Sept-Îles and it could be higher to get to Montreal, Quebec.
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“We can underline it, put it in bold: we are very happy with this new program,” insists Marc-André Masse. (Archive photo)
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Several details remain to be finalized by February 3, but the MRC du Golfe-de-Saint-Laurent could finance the residual cost of the tickets. There would be a considerable saving
estimates Marc-André Masse.
Perhaps we will be able to involve other categories of young people. For example, we had our juveniles who participated [à des compétitions régionales]. Perhaps the youngest children will eventually be able to participate, perhaps the cadets too
he adds.
Marc-André Masse believes that Quebec has listened to the requests of the Bas-Côtiers. I really believe that the work of elected officials in the region has contributed. Mr. Montigny from Manicouagan and Ms. Champagne Jourdain from Duplessis, I think they did an excellent job for us.
Until February 3, 2025, the old version of the PAAR remains in effect. Only connections between remote regions and Montreal, Saint-Hubert or Quebec airports are eligible for subsidies.
