Hill Tells Commons Beetle Dollars Still There

Wednesday, October 04, 2006 03:25 PM

Prince George-Peace River M.P Jay Hill has re-affirmed his government's committment to the mountain pine beetle program.

Hill rose in the House of Commons today to say:

"This new Conservative government has committed to $1-Billion in new federal funding over the next ten years to help BC’s pine beetle-ravaged communities address local priorities associated with the epidemic, diversify their economies, and create new long-term jobs. Jobs like those the Prince George Airport is striving to create through its expansion and development plans. We will continue to invest in the scientific research necessary to help manage the aftermath of the infestation and to remain competitive under its threat in the future."

The comments follow several days of confusion and upset among those seeking funding for a variety of projects. That confusion was created when the Federal Government announced it was going to take the unused $11.7 million dollars left over from a previous program (and other unused program dollars) and put the dollars towards the debt. Hill had also made it clear that $100 million dollars had been set aside for the beetle program for the fiscal year of April 1st 2006 to March 31st 2007.

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Posted on Wednesday, October 04, 2006 03:25 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: diplomat on October 4 2006 3:53 PM

Hill: "...like those the Prince George Airport is striving to create through its expansion and development plans."

What a relief! Finally the cheque for the long debated, boldly envisioned and much required runway extension/lengthening is IN THE MAIL!

Good news, indeed!

Posted by: Gofaster on October 4 2006 5:43 PM

Sounds like a lot of back peddling to me.

Posted by: owl on October 5 2006 12:27 AM

May not be backpeddling at all. It may only be a lack of information on the amount comitted over the fiscal year and a monthly update on how the projects are doing.

It would seem as taxpayers, who want to make sure that the $ are spent wisely on projects dealing with the economic health of our community as we go through this shift caused by the MPB we would be owed the duty to report out on a regular basis, no less than quarterly, without BS or political advertisement.

Wouldn't that be a wonderful standard for any level of government dealing wih regional projects? Sate of the union page in the local paper, quarterly.