June 18, 2010
$1.8 Million Investment Puts Workers Back on the Job

PRINCE GEORGE – Workers in Prince George and surrounding areas will be back on the job thanks to more than a $1.8 million investment in seven projects through the Community Adjustment Fund and the Job Opportunities Program.

“Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, our Government has taken decisive action to protect incomes, create jobs, and help workers and communities get back on their feet,” said the Honourable Jay Hill, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Member of Parliament for Prince George-Peace River. “Today’s announcement will help our region continue to emerge from this challenging time even stronger than ever.”

“When the global economy went into steep decline in 2008, we reacted swiftly by introducing the Job Opportunities Program in order to keep people working,” says Prince George-Valemount MLA Shirley Bond. “Almost two years later, the program continues to be a success ensuring we can support local families through quality job opportunities that benefit the entire community. I am pleased to see these important projects receiving support.”

“We have certainly been through some real challenges in responding to tough economic times,” says Prince George-Mackenzie MLA Pat Bell. “Our highest priority has been to keep people employed. The Job Opportunities Program has made a real positive difference in benefiting displaced workers and their families.”

The seven latest round of projects for Prince George and surrounding communities include:

Prince George Woodlot Association: This project will employ 11 workers to conduct girdling or snapping of deciduous stems to release conifers, spacing, and hand fertilizing in the Prince George, Hixon, Summit Lake, and Norman Lake areas.
Federal Funding: $162,500
Provincial Funding: $87,500
Total Funding: $250,000

LTN Contracting Ltd.: Twelve employees will be working in the treatment of 24 hectares, adjacent to homes in Prince George, by thinning, spacing, pruning, cutting, chipping, and burning ladder fuels to reduce the fire hazard through fuel management. 
Federal Funding: $162,258.20
Provincial Funding: $87,369.80
Total Funding: $249,628

Tsay Keh Dene Band: Through this project, 23 employees will work on trees in Tsay Keh Dene and Prince George areas to fell, buck, and pile the trees through the completion of fuel management work activities.  Access routes will also be hand felled, piled and burned in order to mitigate fire hazard in the communities.
Federal Funding: $153,008.96
Provincial Funding: $82,389.44
Total Funding: $235,398.40

District of Mackenzie: This project will employ 24 workers to fall, chip and burn beetle infected trees in Mackenzie. 
Federal Funding: $162,380.40
Provincial Funding: $87,435.60
Total Funding: $249,816

L.C.R. Holdings Ltd.: Eight workers will be employed for brushing, weeding, spacing, and pruning in Valemount.
Federal Funding: $162,487.60
Provincial Funding: $87,493.33
Total Funding: $249,980.93

Village of Valemount: Five workers will be employed to remove pine beetle trees, as well as thinning, pruning, remove brush, deadfall, chip and scatter in Valemount.
Federal Funding: $54,139
Provincial Funding: $28,537.24
Total Funding: $82,676.24

L.C.R. Holdings Ltd.: Eight workers will be employed for brushing, weeding, spacing, and pruning in McBride.
Federal Funding: $162,359.42
Provincial Funding: $87,424.31
Total Funding: $249,783.73

The three-year $86.25-million Job Opportunities Program, now in its final year, was first announced in May 2008 as a component of the Community Development Trust through funding provided by the Government of Canada. In July 2009, the Government of Canada and Province of British Columbia each committed up to an additional $30 million towards the program.

The Government of Canada’s contribution to the Job Opportunities Program supports project costs that meet all the federal requirements for funding under the Community Adjustment Fund. The federal contribution under Canada’s Economic Action Plan will help stimulate the economy and keep Canadians working during the economic downturn.

The Province of British Columbia’s contribution to the Job Opportunities Program is part of its commitment to provide stability for workers and communities, maintain the workforce during the economic downturn, and help British Columbians gain new skills to be successful in the future.

A part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the Community Adjustment Fund is a two-year, $1-billion national program that will provide an economic stimulus by supporting projects that create jobs and maintain employment in rural communities.

Visit the Community Adjustment Fund in the West, the Job Opportunities Program or Canada’s Economic Action Plan for more information.

Visit Jay’s website at:  www.jayhillmp.com
Visit Shirley’s website at www.shirleybondmla.bc.ca
Visit Pat’s website at www.patbellmla.bc.ca

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