The Government of Canada today announced an investment of $250,000 to raise the profile of communities impacted by the Mountain Pine Beetle at the next two Olympic Games.

The Honourable Jay Hill, Secretary of State and Member of Parliament for Prince George-Peace River, made the announcement on behalf of the Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources and the Honourable Rona Ambrose, President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of Western Economic Diversification.

“The Olympic Games represent a wonderful opportunity to showcase Canada to the world,” said Secretary of State Hill. “Through this investment, communities at risk from the Mountain Pine Beetle can seize the opportunity to promote local trade, investment and tourism to the global marketplace.”

"This joint project is an example 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."

Allocated under the Mountain Pine Beetle Community Economic Diversification Initiative (CEDI), funding will be provided to the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM). UBCM will ensure that Mountain Pine Beetle-impacted communities are showcased in the BC Stories and BC Explorer programs during the 2008 Games in Beijing and the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver/Whistler. See backgrounder attached for more information.

"The UBCM is very appreciative of the federal Government's support for Mountain Pine Beetle-impacted communities," said UBCM President Susan Gimse.  "The BC Stories and BC Explorer programs provide an excellent platform for attracting business and tourist attention on both national and international levels."

A successful part of the BC Canada Place Pavillion in Torino in 2006, the BC Stories and BC Explorer programs were developed by the BC Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Secretariat. Through each program, visiting media, the general public and business representatives have access to information about BC communities – including their history, diversity, business, sport, art and culture.

Managed by Western Economic Diversification Canada, the Mountain Pine Beetle Community Economic Diversification Initiative (CEDI) will invest more than $33 million over two years in communities most at risk from the beetle infestation.

The CEDI program is part of the Government of Canada’s $200 million comprehensive response to mitigate the short-term 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 economy of Western Canada.

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

For additional information, contact:

Tom Wakefield
Communications Officer
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Tel: (604) 666-2445
Cel: (604)-218-4395    

Paul Taylor
Relationships and Communications Advisor
Union of British Columbia Municipalities
Tel: (250) 356 2938
Fax: (250) 387 4470