Another Million from the Feds

Tuesday, August 11, 2009 03:36 PM

Prince George, B.C. — Another million dollars was pumped into the region Tuesday with word of funding for six different projects through the Western Economic Diversification Mountain Pine Beetle Fund.

Prince George - Peace River M.P. Jay Hill delivered the details noting the mountain pine beetle infestation and the global economic meltdown have had severe impacts on forest dependant communities "Today’s investments will create new opportunities and support long term planning to help diversify and strengthen our region.”

The six projects, totaling $945,070, range from workshops capitalizing on biomass energy opportunities to the development of tourism marketing strategies and economic development plans.

1) Initiatives Prince George

Investment of $96,000 toward the Golden Raven Cultural Marketing Tourism Program.

2) West Moberly First Nations

Contribution of $427,070 toward the development of a tourism plan, community skills assessment and two feasibility studies examining navigational waterway tourism and a birch syrup tourism opportunity.

3) Lheidli T’enneh First Nation

Investment of $220,000 to the First Nations toward the development of a community engagement strategy and economic diversification plan.

4) Resources North Association: Two Projects

A contribution of $105,000 toward the delivery of workshops to First Nations in Prince George, Burns Lake, Vanderhoof and Fort St. James, focused on the potential of biomass energy systems and industries to enhance the long-term stability and economic diversification of these First Nations communities.

5) Contribution of $44,500 to deliver workshops to First Nations in three locations—Prince George, Vanderhoof and Burns Lake—focused on agro forestry. The overall goal of the project is to demonstrate how agro forestry could be an option for economic diversification and development, improving revenues and stabilizing wood fibre flow.

6) Regional District of Fraser Fort George (RDFFG)

Investment of $52,500 to investigate the economic diversification opportunities in the Robson and Canoe Valleys, potential business opportunities if the Robson and Canoe Valleys were to operate as one economic unit, with the purpose of strengthening the attractiveness and marketability of the area, leading to a more secure economic future.

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Posted on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 03:36 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: foxtrapper on August 11 2009 6:52 PM

So--in fact the money is being pumped into so-called first nations and not into the 'region' as the headline suggests. Whats new? We give it to Quebec or First Nations.

Posted by: polar7018 on August 11 2009 7:29 PM

here,here foxtrapper.we pay the taxes and all the hand outs go to first nations.
something really haywire here.

Posted by: Chester on August 11 2009 7:49 PM

They all look like make work projects to me. Where is the actual value produced for these dollars? Can't wait to see the fruit from these investments in our First Nations communities.

Posted by: Mr. PG on August 11 2009 7:54 PM

First nations projects again? I am gettng tired of this perptual waste of money!

Posted by: RUEZ on August 11 2009 8:27 PM

More money to fist nations? Boo friggin Hoo. Suck it up. If you give someone a means to take care of themselves they become less dependent on you. Isn't that what we want?

Posted by: dow7500 on August 11 2009 10:51 PM

Ruez, did you just get back from Fantasy Island? If throwing money at this problem solved anything, I must have missed it.

Posted by: seamutt on August 12 2009 5:57 AM

Wish I could afford a new truck.

Posted by: cheeta on August 12 2009 7:26 AM

I agree, I don't want to begrudge these projects for the 1st nations, but most of the unemployed in the forest industry will not benefit at all from these projects.
Kamloops used some of the funding to help unemployed forest workers by expanding recycling programs. They have curb-side pickup of these materials. It doesn't even have to be sorted. They have pickup/sorting and expanded facilities for this and it created 18 jobs. What a better way to go.
Creating temporary jobs for 1st nations people isn't solving anything.
I don't think these projects help the forest communities in the least. What a waste of taxpayers money.

Posted by: RUEZ on August 12 2009 8:44 AM

dow7500: do you only approve of federal projects that benefit white people? What's your problem with money going to first nations? The feds also through hundreds of thousand at festivals that benefit no one and even gay pride parades. Did you bitch about those things as well?

Posted by: dow7500 on August 13 2009 3:10 PM

Ruez. You bet I bitched about the gay pride funding. I also bitched about the boneheaded regional development programs, as well as the "Birch syrup tourism" opportuinitie funds. The list of government waste is boundless. Do you really need a play by play of government's pissing away our money to see this as stupid vote pandering?