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GOVERNMENTS OF CANADA AND B.C. INVEST $60M IN JOBS

July 13, 2009
KAMLOOPS – A $60-million commitment will help the Job Opportunities Program create immediate employment and help workers in all industry sectors and communities impacted by the economic downturn, announced Lynne Yelich, federal Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, and Bill Bennett, British Columbia’s Minister of Community and Rural Development.

The Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia are each contributing up to $30 million toward the Job Opportunities Program. The program, first announced in May 2008 as one component of the $129-million Community Development Trust, helps unemployed workers in all industry sectors and communities impacted by the economic downturn.

One such project will be implemented through the British Columbia Cattlemen’s Association. The association will receive more than $5.5 million to deliver several different range fencing-related components on crown land, including fence line protection and replacing aging fences. This project will create jobs, strengthen local economies and provide much-needed fences along rangelands to protect both cattle and people. Read about JOP projects in other communities.

Taking part in the June 13 announcement in Kamloops are Senator Nancy Greene Raine, BC Cattlemen's Association representative David Haywood-Farmer, Western Diversification Minister of State Lynne Yelich,  B.C. Minister of Community and Rural Development Bill Bennett, Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo MP Cathy McLeod, and Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Terry Lake.

So far, more than 6,000 workers and their families have been helped through the Trust.

News release from this event
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2009-07-13 - KAMLOOPS – A $60-million commitment will help the Job Opportunities Program create immediate employment and help workers in all industry sectors and communities impacted by the economic downturn, announced Lynne Yelich, federal Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, and Bill Bennett, British Columbia’s Minister of Community and Rural Development.
2009-06-10 - VICTORIA – Kootenay East MLA Bill Bennett, pictured here with B.C.'s Lieutenant Governor Steven L. Point, was appointed Minister of Community and Rural Development at the June 10 swearing-in ceremony at Government house.
2009-06-10 - VICTORIA – B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell named East Kootenay MLA Bill Bennett as Minister of Community and Rural Development June 10, 2009. The ministry is responsible for municipal affairs, regional and economic development in rural areas of the province, community response to the mountain pine beetle epidemic, programs such as the Community Development Trust and the Job Opportunities Program, Towns for Tomorrow, BC Spirit Squares, LocalMotion and Trees for Tomorrow.