The Government of Canada is supporting two projects that will help revitalize Vanderhoof's downtown core and draw more tourists to the area.
Federal funding of $420,000 was announced today by Dick Harris, Member of Parliament for Cariboo-Prince George, on behalf of the Honourable Rona Ambrose, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of Western Economic Diversification and Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources. Funding is provided through the Community Economic Diversification Initiative (CEDI), a component of the federal Mountain Pine Beetle Program.
"The Government of Canada is helping turn the pine beetle challenge into an economic opportunity for communities affected by the infestation," said MP Harris. "Creating a unique downtown experience is an important part of developing a community's identity, and for establishing a strong local economy."
A federal investment of $340,000 will help the District of Vanderhoof improve infrastructure and beautify the community's downtown core. Work will include new and improved sidewalks, street lights, landscaping, catch basis and telephone lines.
"These projects announced today are examples of how the Government of Canada is addressing the needs of communities affected by the Mountain Pine Beetle infestation," said Minister Lunn. "Through this support, our government is helping impacted communities turn challenges into economic opportunities."
An additional investment of $80,000 will support the District to study the construction of, and develop a business plan for, the White Sturgeon Interpretive Centre. This tourist attraction would complement the planned Nechako White Sturgeon Recovery Facility.
"These two contributions will play a large role in helping our community to diversify our economy through the upgrading of our downtown core and developing, in partnership with the Saik'uz First Nations, an Interpretive Centre," said Mayor Len Fox. "We expect the projects will play a key role in Vanderhoof's Tourist strategy."
Managed by Western Economic Diversification Canada, CEDI will invest more than $33 million over two years in communities most at risk from the beetle infestation. The program supports a wide range of projects that further economic growth, job creation and future community sustainability.
The CEDI program is part of the Government of Canada's $200 million comprehensive response to mitigate the short-term and long-term effects of the Mountain Pine Beetle infestation on B.C.'s forestry sector. This federal Mountain Pine Beetle Program is led by Natural Resources Canada, in collaboration with Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) and Transport Canada.
Western Economic Diversification Canada is a department of the Government of Canada that works in partnership with the provinces, industry associations and communities to promote the development and diversification of the western economy and to represent the interests of the West in national decision-making.
For more information on the federal Mountain Pine Beetle Program, please visit: http://mpb.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/publications_e.html.
For additional information, contact:
Catherine Brown
Communications Officer
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Tel: (604) 666-1306
Kathie Laforge
Economic Development Officer
District of Vanderhoof
(250) 567-4711
21 mai 2008
Vanderhoof (Colombie-Britannique)
