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VICTORIA - Through the $129-million Community Development Trust initiative, the Province of British Columbia’s three-pronged approach has been able to help about 4,000 forest workers, their families and communities during the first of three years.
The Community
Development Trust was first announced in May 2008 and the programs were
developed in consultation with industry, labour and non profits to directly
assist forest workers impacted by the recent downturn in the forest industry.
The funding is divided into three programs Transitional Assistance, Tuition Assistance and Job Opportunities.
The $85.5-million Transitional Assistance program has assisted more than 1,675 forest workers with an average of $37,983. The goal of the Transitional program is to assist more senior workers to transition to retirement.
Through the $17.25-million Tuition Assistance program, more than 1,640 people have been able to access up to $5,000 for retraining. The Tuition funding is for workers who were expected to be on layoff for four months or longer. Applications are continually accepted throughout this three-year program.
Under the $26.25-million Job Opportunities Program, $16.8 million has been approved for projects to date. These projects are anticipated to employ more than 800 people. Approvals are ongoing to ensure as many jobs as possible for this spring, summer and fall.
The Job Opportunities Program helps reduce the impact of current layoffs on workers employed in the forest industry, retains skilled forest workers for the anticipated future upturn, and preserves the characteristics of the labour force in forest-dependent communities. Applications are continually accepted throughout this three-year program.
The following table shows the
breakdown of CDT funding that has gone to workers and projects in each of
the province's economic regions up to March 31, 2009:
|
Economic Region |
Transitional Assistance |
Tuition Assistance |
Job Opportunities |
Total |
|
Vancouver Island/
Coast |
$20,873,083 |
$2,190,000 |
$810,205 |
$23,873,288 |
|
Mainland/Southwest |
$6,314,839 |
$215,000 |
- |
$6,529,839 |
|
Thompson Okanagan |
$9,142,058 |
$555,000 |
$1,679,516 |
$11,376,574 |
|
Kootenay |
$8,702,401 |
$745,000 |
$2,767,370 |
$12,214,771 |
|
Cariboo |
$13,141,262 |
$3,975,000 |
$2,519,010 |
$19,635,272 |
|
North Coast |
$1,237,649 |
$70,000 |
$585,183 |
$1,892,832 |
|
Nechako |
$3,530,044 |
$200,000 |
$931,460 |
$4,661,504 |
|
North East |
$597,074 |
$315,000 |
$394,378 |
$1,306,452 |
|
Relocations |
$185,872 |
$20,000 |
- |
$205,872 |
|
Total: |
$63,724,282 |
$8,285,000 |
$9,687,123 |
$81,696,405 |
Through Budget 2009, the Province has committed an additional $30 million in funding to allow for further programs similar to those offered under the Community Development Trust. For more information, visit www.cd.gov.bc.ca/cdt/.
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contact: |
Ministry of Community Development 250 387-4089 |
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For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca. |
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