Support for seasonal workers in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean tourism industry Saguenay, Quebec, December 14, 2004 -- The Honourable Jacques Saada, Minister of Canada Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Francophonie, is pleased to announce that seasonal workers in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean tourism industry will be able to benefit until March 31, 2005 from the program to extend the tourism season. Canada Economic Development's intervention on behalf of the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean tourism industry does not constitute an income support measure, but is in addition to the assistance already provided to the regional tourism association (ATR), which is aimed at supporting the marketing of the tourism supply on foreign markets. 'Our partnership with the ATR is nothing new,' stated the Minister. 'We have been working together now for seven years, and all the effort invested by the association means that today we can take another step closer to consolidating enterprises and jobs in this sector.' 'This highly successful program was set up in the Saguenay region in 2001,' stated regional tourism association president, Jérôme Gagnon. 'It was applied in 35 tourism enterprises and led to the consolidation of some 180 jobs, as well as providing thousands of additional weeks of work for industry employees. The program generated $3.7 million in economic spinoffs. Moreover, the number of off-season tourists visiting the region leapt by 20%. Even more significantly, though, the program successfully extended the tourist season and catered to the needs of the international clientele. We were innovative, and today we must continue to be so.' The Government of Canada is conscious of the importance of the tourism industry for the region's vitality and economic diversification. So it is supporting this industry by contributing to the maintenance of a skilled labour force. This exceptional, short-term measure will benefit the workers, their families, enterprises and communities as a whole. The Government of Canada intends to continue the work achieved to date, and is in the process of reviewing the policy on seasonal workers, particularly in the tourism sector. 'The Government of Canada has always supported the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean tourism industry,' the Minister concluded. 'The regional tourism association received $1.3 million in June 2004 to market the region internationally. The Wild Zoo of Saint-Félicien, with close to $10 million in financial assistance, implemented its Borealium project at the Centre for the Conservation of Boreal Biodiversity, while the New France Site received a $1.5-million contribution to carry out major development work.' The contribution to the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean regional tourism association (ATR) comes under the Support for the drawing power and international reach of Quebec regions component of Canada Economy Development's Regional Strategic Initiatives (RSI) program. 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. Funding for this initiative was provided for in the March 2004 federal budget. - 30 - Louis PotvinCommunicationsCanada Economic Development(514) 496-1997 Daniel DezaindePress SecretaryOffice of the Honourable Jacques Saada(514) 496-1282
