COMMUNITY TRUST SUPPORTS FUTURE EMPLOYMENT IN MACKENZIE

VICTORIA – The community of Mackenzie will benefit from a commitment in the range of $600,000 through the $129-million Community Development Trust Job Opportunities Program to potentially employ more than 70 forest workers, Forests and Range Minister Pat Bell, Community Development Minister Kevin Krueger and Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts Bill Bennett announced.

“The Job Opportunities Program will continue to create and provide employment for Mackenzie forest workers as we move through this period of global economic uncertainty together,” said Bell. “These projects will help Mackenzie families with incomes, keep our skilled workforce active, and upgrade recreation areas and facilities that all residents use and enjoy.”

“We have set aside this funding from the Job Opportunities Program to assist the hard hit community of Mackenzie,” said Krueger. “And we look forward to being able to go forward with as many projects as possible to provide jobs at a time when every job counts.”

There are a number of projects under consideration and potential work activities may include:

· Brushing, chipping and removing danger trees on the 11.7-kilometre Morfee Mountain Access Road, an access point for the alpine wilderness experience as well as snowmobiling.

· Clearing portage and hiking trails of brush and beetle-killed pine, as well as improving old picnic tables and outhouses at Heather and Dina Lakes.

· Upgrades to the Mackenzie Nature Observatory Trail, a family-friendly, five-kilometre trail from Mugaha Marsh to Tutu Bay, as well as building an outhouse and picnic tables. Construction of a hiking trail around the eastern shore of Morfee Lake, as well as improvements and connections to existing trails. The project would also include the development of three rest spots.

· Removing danger trees that have been infested with Mountain Pine Beetle in parks and near roadways.

· Decommissioning the Lions Lake Scouts Camp, returning the area to its natural state, as part of decommissioning of similar sites that are taking place across the country.

“This is incredible news for the community. This additional funding will allow us to hire more unemployed forestry workers and help build a lasting legacy for the community through the improvement of recreation infrastructure and wildfire protection,” said Mackenzie Mayor Stephanie Killam. “The program is assisting not only displaced workers but also local businesses in bridging this economic downturn.”

“These projects not only provide jobs, but also valuable opportunities for outdoor recreation, which is important not only for healthy communities, but also for the tourism industry,” said Bennett.

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. The funding of these projects is in addition to the $2 million already committed to Mackenzie.

Forest-dependent communities or organizations, licensees and contractors working in co-operation 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

Mayor Stephanie Killam

District of Mackenzie

250 997-3221




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