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VICTORIA – The City of Terrace will receive another $300,000 from the Community Development Trust’s Job Opportunities Program to complete trail construction, fire abatement and highway brushing projects, Community Development Minister Kevin Krueger and Forests and Range Minister Pat Bell announced today.
“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.”
Up to 13 forest workers will finish construction of the Lanfear Creek
Trail, as well as complete upgrades to the Gruchy Trail at Lakelse Lake
Provincial Park. Further pruning and widening is also scheduled for the Onion
Lake cross-country ski trails south of Terrace.
“The forest workers involved in
these projects are using their skills to leave a recreational legacy that will
enhance the quality of life in Terrace,” said Bell. “Through the trust, we’ve
also been able to retain the community’s forestry workforce for when market
conditions improve.”
Other projects scheduled for completion are brushing along Highway 16, and fire hazard reduction around Mills Memorial Hospital in Terrace and government buildings in the community of Thornhill.
Terrace received an initial $300,000 in August 2008 to employ 20 forest workers for a variety of local improvement projects, including stream restoration work. The second round of funding will ensure the projects are successfully completed, while continuing to provide local employment.
“The projects and employment made possible through the Job Opportunities Program have helped the City of Terrace address the challenges of this economic downturn,” said Terrace Mayor David Pernarowski. “We’re pleased to receive additional funds to ensure the work begun last year can be completed.”
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 |
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Mayor David Pernarowski City of Terrace 250 635-6311 |
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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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