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Governments of Canada and B.C. Invest $14-Million in Jobs

September 8, 2009

KAMLOOPS – An investment of more than $14 million through the Community Adjustment Fund and Job Opportunities Program will help organizations and groups throughout the province create immediate employment and help workers in all industry sectors and communities impacted by the economic downturn, announced MP Cathy McLeod, Member of Parliament for Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo on behalf of Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, and Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts on behalf of Bill Bennett, British Columbia’s Minister of Community and Rural Development.

“I’m pleased to announce our Government’s support for these 45 projects,” said McLeod. “Investments such as these are creating and protecting jobs, supporting Canadians who are facing challenging times, helping threatened industries and laying the foundations for our future prosperity.”

“This funding supports the creation of more than 470 jobs for laid-off resource workers, and helps keep communities strong during this time of economic uncertainty,” said Krueger.  “These projects have the support of local communities, reflecting their importance to the economic diversification of sectors such as tourism and forestry.”

The $26.25-million Job Opportunities Program was first announced in May 2008 as one component of the Community Development Trust through funding by the Government of Canada. In July 2009, the Government of Canada and Province of British Columbia each committed up to an additional $30 million towards the program.

The Government of Canada’s contribution to the Job Opportunities Program supports projects that meet all the federal requirements for funding under the Community Adjustment Fund. The contribution under Canada’s Economic Action Plan will help stimulate the economy and keep Canadians working during the economic downturn.

The Province of British Columbia’s contribution to the Job Opportunities Program is part of its commitment to provide stability for workers and communities, maintain the workforce during the economic downturn and help British Columbians gain new skills to be successful in the future.

A part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the Community Adjustment Fund (CAF) is a two-year, $1-billion national program that will provide an economic stimulus by supporting projects that create jobs and maintain employment in rural communities.

The fund will provide $306 million over two years to support the most affected western Canadian communities, such as those that are heavily reliant on resource-based industries, for instance forestry, mining, agriculture and fisheries, and communities that depend on the manufacturing industry. Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) is delivering the fund in the four western provinces.

Visit the Community Adjustment Fund (CAF) in the West, the Job Opportunities Program or Canada’s Economic Action Plan for more information.
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