New meetings held between Minister Blackburn and Canada Economic Development senior management

News Release

Montréal, Quebec, February 16, 2006 - The Honourable Jean-Pierre
Blackburn, Minister of Labour and Minister of Canada Economic
Development, met Tuesday and Wednesday with senior officials of Canada Economic
Development for a series of briefings on contributions pending approval and key
development issues facing the regions of Quebec.
These initial meetings culminated in the Minister's approval of nearly
$5.2 million in funding toward nine projects from various regions of
Quebec, with execution times ranging from eight months to two years. These
projects, which will necessitate some $12.8 million in total investments, will
be made public once the promoters have officially accepted the terms of the
Agency's letter of offer.
"To properly fulfil my responsibilities as Minister, it is imperative that I
have a full grasp of the workings and operations of the Agency so that we may
collectively improve the way we do things in the future and make better
decisions to promote the development of the regions," Minister Blackburn
explained. "I want to become more familiar with the nature of the projects we
are funding in order to better gauge their impact on regional development and
more effectively meet the growing needs and expectations of Quebec's regions and
taxpayers. I will be in a better position to propose changes that will bolster
regional development once I have a fuller understanding of the workings of the
department," he added. Remarking on the professionalism and high level
of competency of all of the senior officials and employees he has met since
taking office, Minister Blackburn noted that it is with great enthusiasm
that he is undertaking this new mandate. He further expressed the conviction
that, with the support and co-operation of all of Canada Economic Development
employees, the Agency will be able to build on the dynamism of Quebec's regions.
"These efforts will be reflected in the quality of life of our communities," the
Minister concluded.
It should be recalled that 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.
- 30 -
Source:
Marie-Claude LemireCommunicationsOffice of the Honourable Jean-Pierre
BlackburnCanada Economic DevelopmentTel.:
514 214-5381

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New meetings held between Minister Blackburn and Canada Economic Development senior management

News Release

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