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PRINCE GEORGE The Province is providing an additional $50 million in funding for the Northern Development Initiative, including $30 million specifically aimed at helping communities respond to the mountain pine beetle infestation, Premier Gordon Campbell announced today.
The mountain pine beetle presents a major long-term challenge for communities, and we want to help them prepare for that and ensure a long-term and sustainable future for the forest sector and forest workers, said Premier Gordon Campbell. The $185-million Northern Development Initiative is a strong vote of confidence in the future of the North and in the vision of the communities who will decide how best to use this funding to achieve their vision for a thriving and diversified Northern economy.
The Northern Development Initiative was established last fall with a $135-million trust to give northern communities the funding, control and ability to identify and pursue new opportunities for stimulating sustainable economic growth and job creation in the Peace, Prince George, Northwest and Cariboo-Chilcotin/Lillooet regions.
The additional $50 million in funding to be provided this fall includes:
· $30 million for cross-regional pine beetle recovery projects; and
· $5 million for other development projects in each of the four regions, in addition to the $15 million each region received under the original $135-million trust to help leverage new investments and partnerships to build economic strength.
Premier Campbell noted that the funding increase for the Northern Development Initiative which was established as one of the benefits of the BC Rail Investment Partnership is in addition to the more than $100 million committed in Budget 2005 to help communities and the forest sector respond to the impact of the pine beetle.
The government has made it a priority to diversify the Northern economy through initiatives such as the $1 billion BC Rail Investment Partnership, $200 million widening of Highway 97 between Prince George and Cache Creek, $32 million for the expansion of the Port of Prince Rupert, and $4 million for the expansion of the Prince George Airport.
The Prince George-based Northern Development Initiative is managed by an independent 13-member board of directors that includes two representatives from advisory committees for each of the four regions and five government appointed members. This board is tasked with making strategic investments in forestry, pine beetle recovery, transportation, tourism, mining, energy, 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games opportunities, small business and sustainable economic development. The advisory committees for each region include regional district representatives and mayors from communities with a population over 500 people, as well as local MLAs.
The additional $50 million in funding for the Northern Development Initiatives comes from the 2005/06 budget for the Ministry of Small Business and Economic Development.
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Press Secretary Office of the Premier 250 213-8218 |
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Visit the Province's website at www.gov.bc.ca for online information and services. |
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