COMMUNITY TRUST WORKERS IMPROVE VALEMOUNT FIRE SAFETY

VALEMOUNT - Six forest workers are reducing the risk of fire and improving forest health around Valemount through $51,520 from the Community Development Trust’s Job Opportunities Program, Community Development Minister Kevin Krueger and Prince George-Mount Robson MLA Shirley Bond announced today.

“The Job Opportunities Program is creating employment for Valemount forest workers that will result in the village being better prepared for the approaching fire season,” said Bond. “This is another example of how partnerships between different levels of government will provide a direct benefit to rural and Northern Communities.”

The project includes fuel management and the removal of pine beetle-attacked and vulnerable trees on 24 hectares of land about one kilometre south of Valemount. The workers will also thin the remaining stand, and remove mistletoe-damaged pine, and forest fire fuels like brush and fallen trees.

“The Job Opportunities Program is part of the Province’s comprehensive strategy to address the needs of workers, their families and communities being impacted by the current state of the forest industry,” said Krueger. “Our government wants to encourage forest-dependent communities to continue identifying projects that will qualify, and submit project proposals.”

“Community involvement, awareness and preparation are crucial in preventing forest fires,” said Forests and Range Minister Pat Bell. “This project hires local workers to improve forest health around Valemount, and also serves as a timely reminder to residents of the importance of fuel management in our forests.”

In addition to the reduced risk and fire-spread rate, the thinning will also reduce the susceptibility of the stands to further beetle attack.

“This grant, in addition to Provincial funding in the amount of $154,560 provided through the Union of B.C. Municipalities, will create much-needed local employment opportunities, and will work directly towards providing a Fire-Smart, fire safe community,” said Valemount Mayor Bob Smith.

Over the last three years the province has allocated $37 million to the Union of British Columbia Municipalities and First Nations to assist communities in fuel management treatments as part of their community wildfire protection plans.

The $26.25-million Job Opportunities Program is reducing 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.

Forest-dependent communities or organizations, licensees and contractors working in cooperation with a forest-dependent community are eligible to submit a project proposal to the Job Opportunities Program. To date, the program has approved over $16 million to support 93 projects that will employ more than 750 forest workers in communities across the province.

The Job Opportunities Program is one component of the Community Development Trust, which was announced last spring. B.C.’s share of the federal trust is $129 million over three years, with funds also directed to a tuition assistance program and the Transition Assistance for Older Workers Program. In the 2009-2010 budget, the Province committed an additional $30 million for further programs similar to those offered under the Community Development Trust.

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:	Vivian Thomas Communications Manager Ministry of Forests and Range 250 387-5728	Leanne Ritchie Public Affairs Officer Ministry of Community Development 250 213-8075
	Mayor Bob Smith Village of Valemount 250 566-4435
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