100 MILE HOUSE - An investment totaling $666,959 will create jobs and reduce the risk of wildfire in this region, announced Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo MP Cathy McLeod and Cariboo-Prince George MP Dick Harris, on behalf of Lynne Yelich, federal Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, and Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett on behalf of Bill Bennett, British Columbia's Minister of Community and Rural Development.

"I'm pleased to announce our Government's support in maintaining access to recreation sites in the 100 Mile area," says McLeod.  "This funding will not only create jobs, but will reduce the risk of wildfires and restore usability in the area, generating tourism and benefiting the local economy."

"The Government of Canada is working with the provinces and territories to ensure that important projects get underway quickly," says Harris. "We are improving the quality of life for local residents and families while delivering jobs that will stimulate the economy now."

"Reducing the risk of forest fires and creating jobs is so important to the residents in this region," says Barnett. "These projects put people to work, increase safety for people and animals and create a healthy environment so that our forests can thrive once again."

The combined Federal and Provincial funds for these projects are as follows:

. $261,937 to the Integrated ProAction Corp. to help maintain access to recreation sites in the 100 Mile House area. This includes the removal of mountain pine beetle killed trees along site roads and the clean-up of debris, preventing wild fires. It will also restore usability in the area, generating tourism and benefiting the local economy.

. $205,552 to Esketemec First Nations to improve forest health and productivity in the Central Cariboo Forest District. 432 hectares of repressed timber will be spaced and thinned, reducing the risk of forest fuel.

. $199,470 to UBC Alex Fraser Research Forest to improve forest health, reduce the threat of wild fire and enhance mule deer habitat.

The $26.25-million Job Opportunities Program was first announced in May 2008, as one 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.

The Government of Canada's contribution to the Job Opportunities Program supports project costs that meet all the federal requirements for funding under the Community Adjustment Fund. The federal 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 is delivering the fund in the four western provinces.

Visit Cathy's website at www.cathymcleod.ca Visit Dick's website at www.dickharris.ca Visit Donna's website at www.donnabarnettmla.bc.ca