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VICTORIA – The Community Development Trust’s Job
Opportunities Program is funding the clearing of mountain pine beetle trees in
recreation sites near
“The Community Development Trust is an important tool when it comes to helping families and workers through this difficult economic time,” said Lekstrom. “This project is improving parks and trails in the Houston area, finding uses for beetle kill wood and keeping forest workers employed in their hometown.”
The $150,000 project is employing
six forest workers to remove beetle killed trees that are within a tree length
of access ways, public areas and infrastructure at recreation sites at Owen
Flats, Helen, Paul and Tanglechain lakes, Eagle Creek/Opal Beds and Nordic ski
trails at Morice Mountain. The felled trees are then being processed into
lumber, and used to build structures and support trails at recreation sites in
the
“The Job Opportunities Program is investing in and improving Houston’s recreation sites, and employing local workers to get the work done,” said MacKAY. “The program is providing incomes for families and making recreation areas safer to visit and enjoy.”
The Job Opportunities Program is also funding a $72,000 project in Houston to improve safety on a heavily used snowmobile trail network. The project will employ up to six forest workers to remove hazard trees, limbs and brush and upgrade sections on 34 kilometres of the trail.
“In addition to building and maintaining infrastructure that supports year-round outdoor hobbies, the Job Opportunities Program is demonstrating how beetle-wood can be used to construct facilities that enhance recreation areas,” said Forests and Range Minister Pat Bell. “Both projects also ensure that Houston maintains its skilled workforce for the future.”
“Forest
workers and industry have been a key part of Houston since it was established
almost 100 years ago,” said Houston Mayor Bill
Holmberg. “The Job Opportunities Program is supporting that heritage through
local employment as well as improving trails and building equipment that
enhance the outdoor experiences our community is known for.”
The $26.25-million Job Opportunities Program is helping to reduce the impact of current layoffs on workers employed in the forest industry, retaining skilled forest workers for the anticipated future upturn, and preserving the characteristics of the labour force in forest-dependent communities.
A forest-dependent community or organization and forest licensees or forest contractors working in cooperation with a forest-dependent community, are eligible to submit a project proposal to the Job Opportunities Program. A forest-dependent community or organization and forest licensees or forest contractors working in cooperation with a forest-dependent community, are eligible to submit a project proposal to the Job Opportunities Program. So far 51 projects totalling more than $8 million have been approved in communities across the province.
The Job Opportunities Program is one component of the Community Development Trust, which was announced in May. B.C.’s share of the federal trust is $129 million over three years, with funds also directed to a Tuition Assistance program and Transition Assistance for Older Workers Program.
For more information about the Community Development Trust and Job Opportunities Program, go to: www.cd.gov.bc.ca/cdt/
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Media Contact: |
Jennifer McLarty Public Affairs Officer Ministry of Forests and Range 250 387-4592 |
Leanne Ritchie Public Affairs Officer Ministry of Community Development 250 387-4089 Bill Holmberg Mayor of 250 845-2238 |
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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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