VANDERHOOF, BC – More than 17 workers in the Vanderhoof area will be back on the job thanks to a $467,061 investment from the federal Community Adjustment Fund and the provincial Job Opportunities Program, Dick Harris, Member of Parliament for Cariboo-Prince George and Member of the Legislative Assembly John Rustad for Nechako Lakes announced today.

MP Harris said, “Partnerships such as these will help our region continue to recover from the economic downturn.  Our Conservative Government will continue working with the West to help strengthen all communities, to remain strong, healthy and resilient for generations to come.”

The Industrial Forestry Service Ltd will employ 11 workers to fall pine beetle damaged and danger trees, buck logs, clear slash by burning or chipping in Vanderhoof with a federal contribution of $152,881 and the province’s funding of $82,320.  In addition, Avison Management Services Ltd. will receive federal funding of $150,709 and provincial funding of $81,151 to employ six workers who will conduct danger tree assessment and removal, brushing aspen and alder and disposing of debris over 200 hectares, located 70 kms south of Vanderhoof at the site of the 2006 Kenny Dam fire.

“We have weathered some really tough economic times with our highest priority being to keep people working,” said MLA John Rustad. “The positive signs of recovery that we are beginning to see are as a result of proactive efforts to carefully manage the province’s economy through federal-provincial partnerships such as the Job Opportunities Program.”

The three-year $86.25 million Job Opportunities Program, now in its final year, was first announced in May 2008 as a component of the Community Development Trust through funding provided 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.

A part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the Community Adjustment Fund is a two-year, $1 billion national program that is providing an economic stimulus by supporting projects that create jobs and maintain employment in rural communities.
 
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.
 
Visit the Community Adjustment Fund in the West, the Job Opportunities Program or Canada’s Economic Action Plan for more information.