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The Seton Lake Indian Band will develop an economic plan and two feasibility studies to strengthen the local economy, and the Venables Valley Producers Co-op will conduct a feasibility study for a composting facility utilizing pine beetle wood, thanks to an investment by the Government of Canada, through Western Economic Diversification Canada.

Federal funding of more than $124,000 was announced today by the Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Member of Parliament for Chilliwack-Fraser Canyon, on behalf of the Honourable Rona Ambrose, President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of Western Economic Diversification and Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources. Funding is provided under the Community Economic Diversification Initiative (CEDI), a component of the federal Mountain Pine Beetle Program.

"Developing a strong, diversified economic foundation is vital to the region in order to overcome the challenges posed by the Mountain Pine Beetle infestation,” said Minister Strahl. “This federal funding will enable the region to explore ways in which to strengthen the local economy."

"The project announced today is an example of how the Government of Canada is addressing the needs of communities affected by the Mountain Pine Beetle infestation," said Minister Lunn. "Through this support, our Government is helping impacted communities turn challenges into economic opportunities."

Funding of $99,000 will help the Seton Lake Indian Band create a project team and conduct a detailed study of current labour, capital resources and assets within the Seton Lake community. Once the plan is complete, feasibility studies for two business opportunities will be developed. The feasibility studies will describe the business opportunity, which services and goods will be considered, identify markets for the goods and/or services, identify value-added products, and determine the supply chain infrastructure needed to support the new businesses.

“Today’s funding will allow us the opportunity to identify business opportunities and markets,” said Chief Larry Casper, Seton Lake Indian Band. “We look forward to creating new revenue streams and providing our people with the tools required for economic success.”

With an investment of $25,200, the Venables Valley Producers Co-op will conduct a feasibility study examining the use of pine beetle wood-chips to create compost. The region is well suited to host such a study, and the results could create employment in new areas of agriculture. Additionally, the production of viable compost would assist local producers and growers of products to raise their crops in a more environmentally sustainable fashion.

“With this funding, we will be able to explore various methods of composting,” said Jim McComb, Director, Venables Valley Producers Co-op. “The study will examine sustainable, environmentally-friendly ways of creating economic development for the Thompson River Region.”

Managed by Western Economic Diversification Canada, CEDI will invest more than $33 million over two years towards projects in communities most at risk from the Mountain Pine Beetle infestation. The program supports a wide range of projects that further economic growth, job creation and future community sustainability.

The CEDI program is part of the Government of Canada’s $200 million comprehensive response to mitigate the short- and long-term effects of the Mountain Pine Beetle infestation on B.C.’s forestry sector. This federal Mountain Pine Beetle Program is led by Natural Resources Canada, in collaboration with Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) and Transport Canada.

Western Economic Diversification Canada is a department of the Government of Canada that works in partnership with the provinces, industry associations and communities to promote the development and diversification of the western economy and to represent the interests of the West in national decision-making.

For more information on the federal Mountain Pine Beetle Program, please visit: http://mpb.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/

For additional information, contact:

Pierre Floréa
Director of Communications
Office of the President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of Western Economic Diversification
Telephone: (613) 943-1838

Chief Larry Casper
Seton Lake Indian Band 
Tel: (250) 259-8227

Jim McComb
Director, Venables Valley Producers Co-op
Tel: (250) 457-7171