Natashquan, Quebec, April 19, 2006 - The Honourable
Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of Labour and Minister of Canada Economic
Development, today announced $444,858 in investments in two major economic
diversification projects in the Lower North Shore and Minganie.
Natashquan's cultural and heritage corporation, the Corporation de
développement patrimoniale, culturelle et touristique de Natashquan, will
receive a $232,618 non-repayable contribution towards the commercialization of
the project Natashquan, le pays raconté over the next three years,
and the creation of the Festival du conte et de la légende de
l'Innucadie. This funding will be used to develop a creative, structured and
diversified program focussed on characters in the works of
Gilles Vigneault, the tradition of storytelling and performances by local
and national artists.
"Canada Economic Development has been a partner in
Natashquan, le pays raconté, from the beginning,"
explained Minister Blackburn. "After our contribution of $800,000 to support the
implementation of Natashquan's tourist welcome infrastructures in 2004, this new
funding brings to more than $1 million the financial assistance we have
committed to the project. We believe that Natashquan has everything it takes to
become a tourist destination of choice in the Lower North Shore and offers an
opportunity to extend the tourist season in the Duplessis region."
The second project, led by the Lower North Shore Mayors' Council, is to set
up an Revitalization Office, thanks to a non-repayable contribution of
$212,240. This Government of Canada intervention is, however, linked to
obtaining an exclusion order, commonly known as M-30, from the Government of
Quebec.
The new Revitalization Office's mandate is to foster the development of
priority regional issues. Specific niches have already been identified such as
tourism, agri-food, aquaculture, the enhancement of natural resources as well as
the secondary and tertiary processing of marine products.
The economic diversification of Lower North Shore and Minganie fishing
communities remains a Canada Economic Development priority. Over the past
months, the Agency has awarded non-repayable contributions totalling $783,793
for the implementation of 11 community-based projects. These initiatives will
generate investments of $1,458,620 and create or maintain 35 jobs.
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.
A backgrounder is attached .
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Sources:
Claudie LamontagneCommunicationsCanada Economic
DevelopmentTel.: 1-800-463-9073E-mail: claudie.lamontagne@dec-ced.gc.ca
Roxane MarchandPress SecretaryOffice of the Honourable Jean-Pierre
BlackburnCanada Economic DevelopmentTel. : 819
953-5646Cell : 613 816-5094E-mail : roxane.marchand@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
Canada Economic Development is on line at www.dec-ced.gc.ca.
