Gatineau, Quebec, March 30, 2007 The
Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of Labour and Minister of
Canada Economic Development, today announced a $198,750 repayable
contribution to Re-Source intégration for the acquisition of strategic
equipment necessary to enhance its productivity and increase its
profitability.
The mission of this social economy enterprise located in Gatineau is to
create quality jobs for individuals with disabilities. With more than
80 employees, Re-Source intégration operates in several fields to meet
the needs of the market and its staff, who function well within a framework of
high-volume work requiring simple, repetitive tasks. Such work includes:
manufacture of industrial packaging products, enhancement and recycling for the
industrial sector, and assembly and packing of miscellaneous products. The
enterprise also operates a food services division under the Cuisto brand, for
the preparation of frozen meals.
"Canada Economic Development's assistance will enable Re-Source
intégration to structure its specialized panel production component, and thus to
quintuple its output in order to meet increased demand from its clientele,"
stated Minister Blackburn. "It also ties in with Canada's new
government's desire to increase the emergence of strategic local development
projects and act on the vitality of communities, by supporting the integration
of groups marginal to development."
This project will generate significant economic spinoffs for the Outaouais,
as 10 or so jobs will be maintained and another four will be created for
implementation of the various mandates entrusted to Re-Source intégration,
representing 50% of the sales of this accessible company.
"This project enables us to replace a lesser quality product imported from
the United States, whose added value was minimal, by a new, more robust
product, requiring much less new raw material and offering strong growth
potential," said Alain Duron, General Manager of
Re-Source intégration. "Through
Canada Economic Development's intervention, we were able to
amplify our development plan."
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Sources:
François BélisleCommunicationsCanada Economic
DevelopmentTel.: 1-800-567-6451, ext. 235E-mail: francois.belisle@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