The Government of Canada, through Western Economic Diversification Canada, is investing in three projects in British Columbia’s interior communities that have been impacted by the Mountain Pine Beetle infestation.

Federal funding of $658,000 was announced today by Betty Hinton, Member of Parliament for Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo, on behalf of the Honourable Rona Ambrose, President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of Western Economic Diversification, and the Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources. Funding is provided under the Community Economic Diversification Initiative (CEDI), a component of the federal Mountain Pine Beetle Program.

“The Government of Canada is committed to helping strengthen communities affected by the Mountain Pine Beetle infestation,” said MP Hinton. “These investments will support the development of new agricultural markets, business expansion and Aboriginal economic opportunities in the Central Interior.”

The three projects will strengthen the Kamloops region economy.  WD funding will support the Skeetchestn Indian Band (SIB) and nine Secwepemc Bands to develop a regional value-added incubator site for wood products. An investment in the First Nations Agricultural Lending Association (FNALA) will help build a value chain for hormone/additive free beef that is produced under sustainable conditions in the B.C. interior. The third project is an investment in the District of 100 Mile House for a feasibility study to create of the “Agriculture Enterprise Development Centre.”

"The projects announced today are examples of how the Government of Canada is addressing the needs of communities affected by the Mountain Pine Beetle infestation," said Minister Lunn. "Through this support, our Government is helping impacted communities turn challenges into economic opportunities."

Managed by Western Economic Diversification Canada, CEDI will invest more than $33 million over two years towards projects in communities most at risk from the Mountain Pine Beetle infestation. The program supports a wide range of projects that further economic growth, job creation and future community sustainability.

The CEDI program is part of the Government of Canada’s $200 million comprehensive response to mitigate the short- and long-term effects of the Mountain Pine Beetle infestation on B.C.’s forestry sector. This federal Mountain Pine Beetle program is led by Natural Resources Canada, in collaboration with Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) and Transport Canada.

Western Economic Diversification Canada is a department of the Government of Canada that works in partnership with the provinces, industry associations and communities to promote the development and diversification of the western economy and to represent the interests of the West in national decision-making.

For more information on the federal Mountain Pine Beetle program, please visit: http://mpb.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/

For additional information, contact:

Pierre Floréa
Director of Communications
Office of the President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of Western Economic Diversification
Telephone: (613) 943-1838