Prince George, B.C. - Efforts continue to create some new jobs for Mackenzie. Prince George North MLA Pat Bell says the efforts he talked about at the rally in Mackenzie on May 23^rd are moving forward.

 

“There’ve been a lot of applications for projects that can be funded by the $2 million dollars that was put into Mackenzie and they’re expecting to release some of those dollars and projects and start employing people within the next two weeks”

 

Some of the projects would help improve the Mackenzie infrastructure and fire management control.

 

Bell says he’s been working with Kettle Valley Stone company. “That project is moving along nicely. Kettle Valley Stone is going to have to decide whether or not they want to be in Mackenzie but I think there is a very logical opportunity to be there.“  Bell says he’s met with a fellow a Mackenzie who has a couple of pits which have a very good quality granite material. Samples have been sent for analysis, and it is possible the material could be used to make countertops.

 

There has been mixed reaction to a proposal that would see direct flights between Mackenzie and Fort McMurray.  

That plan would see workers spend two weeks in Alberta, then head home for two weeks. “I’ve had some people in the community saying they are very interested in something like that, but I’ve also had some say they don’t want to leave Mackenzie. We just want to put the opportunities out there and people can make their individual decisions about what they want to do.”

 

Bell says the College of New Caledonia is expected to present a budget in the next couple of weeks for a possible log home building course.

 

There are also some serious discussions underway with possible buyers of the Pope and Talbot pulp mill.