December 14, 2009
Boyle, Alberta
Brian Jean, Member of Parliament for Fort McMurray–Athabasca and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, on behalf of the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, announced Economic Action Plan funding that will strengthen economic opportunities in the counties of Athabasca and Lac La Biche.
“Our Government, through the Economic Action Plan, is proud to support initiatives that are creating jobs in Alberta’s forestry communities while also enhancing the health of our forests,” said MP Brian Jean. “The project announced today will help protect our forest resources and support long-term economic growth.”
With the help of an investment of more than $3.5 million under the Community Adjustment Fund (CAF), Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries Inc. (Al-Pac) will implement the Dwarf Mistletoe Remediation project. Project activities will consist of mapping and harvesting 1,600 hectares of forest stands infected with dwarf mistletoe, a parasite that can damage and kill infected trees and make them more susceptible to mountain pine beetle infestation. This initiative, which aims to eradicate and stop the spread of the mistletoe, will also create job opportunities for local forestry workers.
“Our company applauds the Government of Canada’s investment in a local project which supports environmental and employment objectives,” said Bob Nichol, Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries woodlands vice president. “The project will rid a large forested area of Dwarf Mistletoe which, if left unattended, would continue its spread, negatively affecting the quality and quantity of the pine forest and potentially provide a foot hold for the Pine Beetle.”
The fund will provide $306 million over two years to support the most affected western Canadian communities, such as those that are heavily reliant on resource-based industries, for instance forestry, mining, agriculture and fisheries, and communities that depend on the manufacturing industry. Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) is delivering the fund in the four western provinces.
Visit the Community Adjustment Fund (CAF) in the West or Canada’s Economic Action Plan for more information.
For more information, contact:
Donna Kinley
Regional Manager, Communications
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Edmonton, Alberta
Tel: (780) 495-6892
Cell: (780) 991-7432
Cindy Bizon
Business Unit Leader, Business and Public Affairs
Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries Inc.
Boyle, Alberta
Tel: (780) 525-8003 or 1-800-661-5210 ext. 8003
WD Toll-Free Number:1 888 338-WEST (9378)
Teletypewriter (TTY): 1 877 303-3388
Website: WD is online at www.wd-deo.gc.ca.
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