The East Kootenay Region will benefit from three new community capacity building projects, thanks to investments by the Government of Canada, through Western Economic Diversification Canada.
Federal funding of more than $220,000 was anno ounced today by the Honourable Jim Abbott, Parliamentary Secretary for Canadian Heritage and Member of Parliament for Kootenay - Columbia, on behalf of the Honourable Rona Ambrose, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, Minister of Intergovern mental Affairs and Minister of Western Economic Diversification and Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources. Funding is provided under the Community Economic Diversification Initiative (CEDI), a component of the federal Mountain Pine Beetle Program.
"This will enable Cranbrook and the surrounding East Kootenay Region to develop common goals in response to challenges posed by the mountain pine beetle infestation," said Mr. Abbott. "This funding will enable the region to undertake vital research and develop strategies that support economic growth in the area."
The three projects will strengthen the Cranbrook and Kaslo area economies. WD funding will support the Kootenay Rockies Regional Economic Alliance Society to complete a baseline assess ment of the regional economy titled, "Foundations of our Economy." An investment in the Kootenay Aboriginal Business Advocates Society will help to develop and deliver business services and resources for aboriginal youth in the Kootenay region. The third project is an investment in the British Columbia Community Forest Association to develop DVD, print and web-based marketing initiatives to promote eco-tourism opportunities and raise the profile of local communities.
"The 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."
Managed by Western Economic Diversification Canada, CEDI will invest more than $33 million over two years towards projects in communities most at risk from the Mountain Pine 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- and long-term effects of the Mountain Pine Be etle 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 Can ada 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 nationa l decision-making.
For more information on the federal Mountain Pine Beetle Program, please visit: http://mpb.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/
For additional information, contact:
Pierre Floréa
Director of Communications
Office of the President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada,
Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and
Minister of Western Economic Diversification
Telephone: (613) 943-1838
Corien Speaker
Chair
British Columbia Community Forest
Telephone: 1-866-534-9902
Jennifer Gunter
Coordinator
Kootenay Rockies Regional Alliance Society
Telephone: (250) 353-2034
Patti Phillips
Manager
Kootenay Aboriginal Business Advocates
Telephone: (250) 426-0595 ext 102
WD Toll-Free Number:1 888 338-WEST (9378)
Website: WD is online at www.wd-deo.gc.ca.
Subscribe to news releases and keep up-to-date on the latest from WD.
