Communities and First Nations along the north coast of British Columbia will be able to continue developing a viable commercial shellfish industry thanks to $600,000 for marine toxin and water quality monitoring from the governments of Canada and British Columbia, provided under the joint Canada-B.C. Western Economic Partnership Agreement.

The Honourable Jean C. Lapierre, Minister of Transport, on behalf of the Stephen Owen, Minister of Western Economic Diversification and Minister of State (Sport); and John Les, British Columbia Minister of Small Business and Economic Development, announced the funding today.

"The shellfish industry is vital to the economic sustainability of B.C.'s coastal communities," said Minister Lapierre. "The Government of Canada is committed to developing competitive and prosperous communities while improving the quality of life of British Columbians."

When the North Coast Water Quality & Biotoxin Program Society came to me asking for funding assistance, I promised to help. And today we are delivering on that promise," said North Coast MLA Bill Belsey. "This funding will support the growth of the shellfish harvesting industry. That means more jobs and economic opportunities, which will lead to stronger North Coast families and communities."

The North Coast Water Quality and Biotoxin Program Society has coordinated biotoxin monitoring on the north coast since 1998. Funding through the Western Economic Partnership Agreement will allow the society to continue its program for four more years, after which time the shellfish industry is anticipated to be in a stronger position to cover monitoring costs.

B.C. is home to the second-largest shellfish industry in Canada and we will continue to support its growth in a way that meets federal environment and health standards," said Minister Owen. "The Government of Canada is committed to developing sustainable industries that create jobs and economic opportunities for First Nations and other local communities."

Commercial fisheries operations are a vital part of the economies of our coastal communities and the overall economy of the province," said Minister Les. "This funding will enable communities and First Nations on the north coast to harvest shellfish for commercial, recreational and traditional purposes and will support economic diversification in the region."

The North Coast Water Quality and Biotoxin Program Society has worked very hard to maintain its current level of operation on a patchwork of short-term funding sources.  The Western Economic Partnership Agreement will provide us with four years of funding for the monitoring portion of our program," said Sandra Cross, Executive Director for the North Coast Water Quality & Biotoxin Program Society.   "This will allow us to continue facilitating the development of shellfish opportunities on the North Coast and help promote the safe and legal harvesting of shellfish."

Almost one-third of BC's coastline has remained closed to most shellfish harvesting for nearly 40 years because marine toxin and water quality monitoring has not been available. The closure has affected commercial, recreational and traditional harvests, and precluded the development of a shellfish aquaculture industry on the North Coast.

The Canada-B.C. Western Economic Partnership Agreement is a $50 million joint federal/provincial program supporting economic development in British Columbia. Western Economic Diversification Canada and the provincial Ministry of Small Business and Economic Development jointly administer the program.

Western Economic Diversification Canada is the federal department mandated to support economic diversification in communities across Western Canada through activities that advanceInnovation, Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Communities.

The agreement was announced on Dec. 4, 2003, and is funded equally by the governments of Canada and British Columbia. The federal portion of this funding was provided for in the March 2004 federal budget.

For additional information, contact:

Susan Schooley
Manager, Communications
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Phone: (604) 666-1318
 
Paul Woolley
Communications Director
Ministry of Small Business and Economic Development
250 356-9428