15 December 2008
Balmoral, New Brunswick
The Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency), and the Honourable Shawn Graham, Premier of New Brunswick, today announced close to $1.4 million in federal and provincial funding for A. Landry Fabrication Ltée, to support the design and development of a first-to-market purpose-built track harvester.
"The Government of Canada is committed to working with its partners to make strategic investments that will capitalize on opportunities for economic growth and innovation in our communities," said Minister Ashfield. "Our investment of more than $760,000 through ACOA and the National Research Council Canada (NRC) will help this company develop a unique, Atlantic-made product for the forestry sector both in New Brunswick, and potentially around the world."
"We are putting New Brunswick on the road to self- sufficiency by investing in the Restigouche region and helping create more opportunities in all regions," said Graham. "This partnership with AL Fabrication demonstrates our government's commitment to economic development in Balmoral, Restigouche and all of New Brunswick."
A. Landry Fabrication, a forestry parts and equipment manufacturer, is currently testing the new first-to-market purpose-built track harvester, which when completed, will enable clients in the forestry sector to choose an Atlantic- made machine. The machine will also be for export markets.
"My son Serge and I have been dreaming of this machine for the past six years," said Armand Landry, President of the company. "Thanks to the participation of the federal and provincial governments and the extraordinary help from everyone, we are making our dream a reality."
Under its Business Development Program, ACOA is providing a contribution of $500,000 toward the development of the prototype. The NRC is investing $261,225 under its Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP), which will also provide a range of both technical and business oriented advisory services. The Province of New Brunswick is providing a total of $625,000; with $125,000 from the Restigouche-Chaleur Economic Development Fund and the remaining $500,000 from the Community Development Trust.
The Community Development Trust is a federal initiative designed to help provinces and territories assist communities and workers experiencing economic hardship caused by the current volatility in global financial and commodities markets. The Government of Canada announced earlier this year that it will provide $30 million to the Province of New Brunswick under this fund.
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The Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of State for ACOA, and the Honourable Shawn Graham, Premier of New Brunswick, today announced federal and provincial support to A. Landry Fabrication, for the development of a first-to-market purpose-built track harvester. The Government of Canada has invested more than $760,000 in the project through ACOA and the NRC, while the Province of New Brunswick is investing another $625,000 in the undertaking.
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Sharon Stanford-Rutter
Senior Communications Officer
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
506-451-2677
Bruce MacFarlane
Managing Director
Communications New Brunswick
506-444-4606
Renée Trépanier
Communications Manager
NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program
613-993-6741
Yves Gagnon
Administration Direction
A.L.P.A. Equipment Ltd.
506-826-2717
