July 25, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRINCE GEORGE, British Columbia— The Honourable Jay Hill, Secretary of State and Member of Parliament for Prince George–Peace River, on behalf of the Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, and Councillor Debora Munoz, Acting Mayor of Prince George, on behalf of Mayor Colin Kinsley, today announced $399,000 in joint funding over one year for a project that will work to prevent forest fires and create 17 jobs for local workers.
“Canada’s New Government is pleased to partner with the City of Prince George and local employment organizations to help adults and young people in Prince George who require employment and career assistance,” said Mr. Hill. “This project builds on our previous initiatives to eliminate the pine beetle and reduce fire risk, by providing local workers with experience in forestry-related jobs for one year.”
Project participants will apply forest fuel reduction measures to high-risk green-space areas, and undertake an urban wildfire awareness-raising initiative. The program will also provide free tree debris removal assistance to city residents who need beetle-killed trees removed from their property.
Over the next year, Canada’s New Government will contribute $149,000 to the City of Prince George for the project, adding to the City of Prince George ’s investment of $250,000. The Government of Canada, through Service Canada, is also making available nearly $374,000 in living allowances to assist project participants.
“Government support for this project is appreciated, and creating jobs for local workers is a real bonus,” said Acting Mayor Munoz. “Partnering with Service Canada provides a significant cost savings to the City of Prince George in our efforts to reduce the threat of forest fires to the community.”
Service Canada brings Government of Canada services and benefits together in a single delivery network. It provides Canadians with one-stop, personalized service they can access however they choose—by phone at 1 800 O Canada, Internet at servicecanada.gc.ca, or in person at Service Canada Centres across the country.
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This news release is available in alternative formats on request. Call 1-800-788-8282 on a touch-tone phone or through a teletypewriter (TTY).
Media inquiries:
Service Canada Communications
604-666-2337
Media Relations Office
Service Canada
819-994-5559
City of Prince George Communications
250-561-7732
Public inquiries:
1 800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232)
TTY: 1-800-926-9105
servicecanada.gc.ca
City of Prince George
Department of the Environment
250-561-7698
Backgrounder
The Job Creation Partnerships employment benefit supports projects aimed at giving insured participants opportunities to gain meaningful work experience. At the end of their participation, clients have recent work experience to add to their resumés. This experience, together with the networking opportunities available while on a project, increases participants’ chances of successfully finding long-term employment.
