Vancouver, B.C. - The Honourable Rona Ambrose, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of Western Economic Diversification, announced that Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) has launched a Request for Expressions of Interest for the Mountain Pine Beetle Community Economic Diversification Initiative (CEDI) today.
"Canada's New Government is pleased to announce that the application process for the Mountain Pine Beetle Community Economic Diversification Initiative is underway and will support economic diversification in the communities that need it most," said Minister Ambrose. "We encourage communities impacted by the pine beetle to come forward with innovative projects that promote economic growth and sustainability."
"The Community Economic Diversification Initiative is an important component of our government's $200-million Mountain Pine Beetle Program," said Minister Lunn. "It will help communities address the long-term impacts of the beetle by building for the future. With the call for Expressions of Interest and the economic growth they will create, that future begins today."
CEDI is a two-year federal contribution program aimed at helping to diversify the economic base of forest-dependent communities in British Columbia and contributing to their long-term stability. Funding will be targeted to communities facing the most immediate risk from the pine beetle infestation.
WD will deliver the initiative on behalf of the federal government. Working with community leaders and other key stakeholders, WD will invest over $33 million in projects that support economic growth, job creation and future sustainability of communities adversely affected by the widespread beetle infestation.
The Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources, announced funding for CEDI on July 18, 2007 at the Prince George Railway and Forestry Museum.
The Request for Expressions of Interest is the first stage of the CEDI application process. To be considered, projects must fall under one or more of the four broad program areas: Community Capacity Building, Economic Diversification, Value-Added Forestry and Economic Infrastructure. WD will review each Expression of Interest and contact eligible applicants to request a more detailed proposal. Further information on deadlines, how to apply and eligibility are available on WD's website: www.wd.gc.ca.
Canada's New Government announced the Mountain Pine Beetle Program in January 2007, pledging a total of $200 million to work with the province of British Columbia and communities to deliver a comprehensive response to the pine beetle infestation and its consequences. Government of Canada funds are supporting joint efforts with the Province of British Columbia to combat the spread of the beetle, protect communities and forest resources in affected areas, and support long-term economic stability in forest-dependent communities. More information on the program is available at: http://mpb.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca.
WD is a department of the Government of Canada that works in partnership with the provinces, industry associations and communities to stimulate and encourage diversification of the western economy, as well as to represent the interests of the West in national decision-making.
For additional information, contact:
Tom Wakefield
Communications Officer
Western Economic Diversification Canada
T: (604) 666-2445
C : 604-218-4395
