June 18, 2010

KELOWNA – Ten workers in Kelowna will be back on the job thanks to a $249,590 investment through the Community Adjustment Fund and the Job Opportunities Program.
 
“There is nothing more important to the livelihood of our communities than job creation.  I am happy to see that Kelowna-Lake Country continues to benefit from our government’s strong Economic Action Plan in partnership with the Province,” says Kelowna-Lake Country MP Ron Cannan.
 
“The most important job in the world is the one that supports you and your family,” says Kelowna-Mission MLA Steve Thomson.
 
“Every job counts. When people are employed they have money to spend to keep our local economies strong,” says Kelowna-Lake country MLA Norm Letnick.
 
“These funds will not only help manage forest fire risks in regional parks, but they will create jobs for local unemployed workers who are in the forestry industry,” says Westside-Kelowna MLA Ben Stewart.
 
The latest project for Kelowna is for the Regional District of Central Okanagan /Parks Services. Ten workers will be employed for tree thinning, pruning, removal of infested trees, heavy loads of pine needles and other fine fuels in Kelowna and West Kelowna. The project will also include trail upgrades to allow crews access to facilitate the fuel management works.
 
Funding includes:

• Federal: $162,233.50
• Provincial: $87,356.50

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 Ron’s website at www.cannan.ca
Visit Steve’s website at www.stevethomsonmla.bc.ca
Visit Norm’s website at www.normletnickmla.bc.ca
Visit Ben’s website at www.benstewartmla.bc.ca
 
For more information about the Job Opportunities Program, go to: www.cd.gov.bc.ca/cdt/
 
For more information on the Community Adjustment Fund in the West go to: http://www.wd-deo.gc.ca/eng/11269.asp
 
For more information Canada’s Economic Action Plan, go to:  http://www.actionplan.gc.ca
 
Media Contact: Stacie Dley, BC Liberal Government Caucus Communications, 250-356-0389