Wolinak, Quebec, November 25, 2004 -- The Honourable Jacques Saada, Minister of Canada Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Francophonie, and the Honourable Andy Scott, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians, today announced that their departments have respectively granted a repayable contribution of $650,000 and a non-repayable contribution of $50,000 toward the establishment of a plastics plant in Wolinak. This plant a model in Quebec is unique in that it is administered by the Abenakis of Wolinak Band Council in partnership with the Groupe Beaudoin, which has been involved in the plastics industry in Drummondville for more than 20 years. Canada Economic Development and the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development had already granted the Wolinak Band Council financial assistance for the construction of an industrial building aimed at fostering the development of this community. The setting up of a plastics plant will be the first large-scale project to be housed in this facility. "There is every indication that plastics is a promising niche market for the future. In Canada, the plastics industry is experiencing steady growth. Its growth rate over the past 40 years is five times that of the manufacturing sector as a whole," said Minister Saada. "Indian and Northern Affairs Canada is proud to be associated with a project like Plastiques Wôlinak Inc., which will not only create 10 new jobs, including eight in-plant jobs, for members of the community of Wolinak, but also initiate a major manufacturing development project in the community that will benefit the entire region. This is a fine example of partnership between Aboriginals and non-Natives," stated Minister Scott. This partnership will enable the plant to benefit from high-calibre management tools designed and proven effective by the Drummondville firm Armotec Inc. whose owner, François Beaudoin, is also a shareholder of Plastiques Wôlinak. Armotec Inc. has an impressive track record in management, commercialization and the environment, fields in which it has specialized for more than 20 years. This project will allow Aboriginal employees to gain valuable management knowledge and manufacturing and product commercialization skills. The establishment in Wolinak of a plastics plant is fully in keeping with the First Nations action plan adopted by the Government of Canada, the purpose of which is to strengthen and support communities by promoting their economic development and improving their living conditions. The Wolinak project has interesting value added given the ripple effect it could have on the development of other similar industrial projects, especially as the formula developed in Wolinak could be transferable to other Aboriginal communities. Canada Economic Development's mandate is to promote the economic development of the regions of Quebec. Primarily through financial assistance programs, the Agency elicits and supports the implementation of economic development projects. The two priorities the Agency has set itself are to foster innovation and the knowledge economy in each region of Quebec, and to help communities that are having difficulty adjusting to the new economy. In this way, the Agency contributes to the attainment of the Government of Canada's objective of building the 21st Century economy. Indian and Northern Affairs Canada offers various programs aimed at fostering economic development in Aboriginal communities. Information on these programs is available at www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/ps/ecd/edp_f.html. - 30 - Funding for this initiative was provided for in the March 2004 federal budget. Sources: Lyne Montpellier Communications Canada Economic Development (819) 371-5182 Daniel Dezainde Press Secretary Office of the Honourable Jacques Saada (514) 496-1282 Hélène Philippe Regional Communications Manager Quebec Regional Office Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (418) 648-7675
