COMMUNITY TRUST IMPROVES TRAILS, EMPLOYS WORKERS

VICTORIA – Nineteen workers are improving recreation sites and trails on the Sunshine Coast thanks to more than $360,000 from the Community Development Trust’s Job Opportunities Program, Community Development Minister Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism Culture and the Arts Bill Bennett and Forests and Range Minister Pat Bell announced.

“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.”

Through the Community Development Trust $119,584 is being provided to the not-for-profit Powell River Model Community Project for Persons with Disabilities so four workers can continue working on the trail and campsites around Inland Lake. Seven kilometers of trail and up to 20 recreation sites around the trail will be rehabilitated and made fully wheelchair accessible.

“Through the Job Opportunities Program, we provided $98,000 for the Inland Lake project in the fall,” said Bennett. “This additional funding will allow restoration work to continue so that Inland Lake can become a first-class destination.”

“Inland Lake Park is a very unique facility, providing a wilderness experience that is accessible for all persons,” said David Morris, executive director for Model Community Project. “We are very pleased to have received this additional funding to allow us to continue the work on the refurbishment of the park.”

Around Sechelt, $35,410 will be used to employ five workers to rehabilitate 6.6 kilometres of popular recreation trails on Mount Elphinstone. Over the years, the trails have eroded and will be restored for safe enjoyment by mountain bikers, horseback riders and hikers.

Also around Sechelt, $217,362 will be used for incremental silviculture treatments, such as brushing, spacing and pruning on 88 hectares of forest land a few kilometres north of Sechelt. These activities will provide employment for another 10 workers.

“The Sunshine Coast projects being funded through the Job Opportunities Program exemplify the diversity of the forest sector and the different benefits forestry can bring,” said Bell. “Funding these projects will help keep skilled forest workers in the area for when the forest sector recovers.”

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 which 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 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

Contacts:

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

David Morris

Powell River Community Project for Persons with Disabilities

604 485-2688




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