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Minister Chuck Strahl Announces Support for BC’s Fishery Sector
The Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities and Member of Parliament for Chilliwack-Fraser Canyon, on behalf of the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, announced Government of Canada support to help the Pacific Salmon Foundation (PSF) strengthen economic opportunities in various British Columbia communities.
“I’m very pleased to announce our Government’s support for the Pacific Salmon Foundation,
” said Minister Strahl. “Investments such as this are creating and protecting jobs, supporting Canadians who have lost their jobs, helping threatened industries, and laying the foundations for our future prosperity.
”
PSF will work in partnership with the Nicomekl Enhancement Society, Friends of DeBoville Slough, Kanaka Environmental Stewardship, and Pemberton Society to hire staff to rehabilitate and construct fish enhancement and conservation infrastructure. This project will improve the health and quality of Pacific salmon in British Columbia.
Federal funding of $1,271,718 is being provided through the Community Adjustment Fund (CAF) as part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan.
“PSF is excited to bring these important Federal funds to community stewardship organizations, empowering them to use local and traditional knowledge and regional resources to benefit both salmon in the wild and the Canadian economy,
” said Dr. Brian Riddell, Chief Executive Officer and President, Pacific Salmon Foundation.
The Community Adjustment Fund will provide $306 million over two years to support the most-affected western Canadian communities, such as those that are heavily reliant on resource-based industries such as forestry, mining, agriculture and fisheries, as well as communities that depend on the manufacturing industry. Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) is delivering the fund in the four western provinces.
Visit the Community Adjustment Fund in the West or Canada’s Economic Action Plan for more information.
For more information, contact:
Jaime Burke
Manager, Communications
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Telephone: 604-666-1318
Dr. Brian Riddell
Chief Executive Officer and President
Pacific Salmon Foundation
(604) 664-7664
WD Toll-Free Number:1-888-338-WEST (9378)
Teletypewriter (TTY): 1-877-303-3388
WD Website: www.wd-deo.gc.ca.
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Backgrounder
On August 27, 2010, the Government of Canada announced funding of $1,271,718 to PSF towards rehabilitation and construction of fish enhancement and conservation infrastructure. The following communities will benefit from this investment:
Langley
- Nicomekl Stewardship Centre - PSF will work in partnership with Nicomekl Enhancement Society to complete renovation of an outdated hatchery and construct a salmon conservation education centre. A public meeting space will also be incorporated in the education centre for the use of regional landowners in integrated watershed planning.
Coquitlam
- McLean Creek Fish Passage - In partnership with the Friends of DeBoville Slough, PSF will install a self-regulated tide gate to improve fish access through the currently installed flood boxes.
Maple Ridge
- Spencer Creek Fish Passage - Working with the Kanaka Environmental Education Partnerships Society, PSF will upgrade an existing flood box to facilitate fish access at the confluence of Spencer Creek and Kanaka Creek.
Pemberton
- Pemberton Stewardship Centre - Funding will allow the Stewardship Pemberton Society to construct an interpretive centre for public education on salmon conservation as well as a hatchery with the capacity to produce 200,000 coho salmon annually.
Sooke
- Charters Creek Stewardship Centre - The Juan de Fuca Salmon Restoration Society will construct a 4,500 square foot stewardship facility which will include a hatchery used primarily for Chinook and coho salmon enhancement. Public education programs on salmon conservation will be provided at the stewardship centre, as well as a public meeting space for other environmental conservation organizations.
