For immediate releaseYELLOWKNIFE, N.W.T., March 1, 2004 -- A $318,618 competitive contract has been awarded to Dowland Contracting Ltd., of Yellowknife, N.W.T., to replace kitchen and bathroom cabinets in Crown-owned housing units in Yellowknife, N.W.T. This contract will maintain four jobs and will be completed in March 2004.The announcement was made today by the Honourable Ethel Blondin-Andrew, MP for Western Arctic and Minister of State (Children and Youth), on behalf of the Honourable Stephen Owen, Minister of Public Works and Government Services."Congratulations to Dowland Contracting for helping to maintain local jobs," said Minister Blondin-Andrew. "This contract demonstrates that no job is too small. Replacing kitchen and bathroom cabinets will help prolong the life-span of these Crown-owned housing units. These units help with the Government of Canada's efforts to recruit and retain qualified public service personnel where they are needed most."Dowland Contracting will replace kitchen and bathroom cabinets in 30 Crown-owned housing units in Yellowknife. The company will supply the cabinets to be installed and will also remove and dispose of the old cabinets. The units house government personnel from various federal departments, including the Department of National Defense, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Public Works and Government Services Canada.Funding for this contract was provided for in the February 2003 Federal Budget.For information on contracting opportunities with the Government of Canada, visit www.merx.com, Canada's official, public sector electronic tendering service.- 30 -For further information, media may contact:Renée GillenPress SecretaryOffice of Minister Owen(819) 953-1095Pierre TéotonioSenior Media Relations Advisor (819) 956-2310Pierre CollinSpecial Assistant, CommunicationsOffice of Minister Blondin-Andrew(613) 953-0928PWGSC News Releases are also available on our Internet site at http://www.pwgsc.gc.ca/text/generic/sub_infocentre_newsrel-e.html