Laval University is getting a $4.5-million boost from the federal government to expand its stadium ahead of the national football championships it is hosting this fall.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper visited the university in Quebec City Thursday to announce the funding to expand the school's sports complex (known as PEPS).

The money will "help improve sports facilities here on campus, in preparation for the Vanier Cup, and for the use of the regions' families," Harper told a crowd of students.

More seats will be added to the stadium to increase capacity from 10,000 to 12,000.

New synthetic surfaces and lighting will be added to three soccer fields adjacent to the stadium.

Laval University is hosting the Vanier Cup in 2009 and 2010.

Arts, culture centres will get makeover

Quebec is also getting a cash injection from Ottawa for dozens of infrastructure projects across the province, including major renovations to modernize arts and cultural facilities in several municipalities.

Ottawa and Quebec are pumping $374 million into the projects, Federal Public Works Minister Christian Paradis announced Thursday while visiting a theatre house in Montreal, accompanied by Quebec culture minister Christine St-Pierre.

Part of the money will go towards a dozen or so culture projects, including renovations at the Théâtre d'aujourd'hui in Montreal, and a new music school in Rivière-du-Loup.

The remaining funding will be used on infrastructure projects to improve highways, roads and bridges in Quebec.

The infrastructure funding is part of the federal government's stimulus fund designed to create jobs and stimulate the economy.