FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 15, 2010
Government of Canada Investment to Create Jobs and Encourage Tourism in Fort Saskatchewan
Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta - Tim Uppal, Member of Parliament for Edmonton-Sherwood Park, on behalf of the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, announced Government of Canada support to help the City of Fort Saskatchewan strengthen economic opportunities in the community.
"Our Government, through Canada's Economic Action Plan, is supporting communities like Fort Saskatchewan through these tough economic times, while building the foundation for prosperity," said MP Uppal. "The development of this key historical site will create immediate new jobs while attracting visitors to our region and providing ongoing benefits for the local economy."
With the help of federal funding, the City of Fort Saskatchewan will proceed with the second phase development of the 1876 North West Mounted Police Fort representation, constructing two new buildings to represent the soldiers' barracks and officers' quarters. This project will immediately help the community by generating employment opportunities, while the attraction of visitors to this historic site will provide further economic benefits and enhance opportunities for tourism development. In addition, the project will incorporate environmentally friendly and ecologically safe materials and allow the community to reclaim a long empty site.
Federal funding of $500,000 is being provided through the Community Adjustment Fund (CAF) as part of Canada's Economic Action Plan.
"We are extremely thankful and grateful to the Government of Canada for its significant financial contribution to this historical project that will create employment and boost tourism in our city," said Fort Saskatchewan Mayor Jim Sheasgreen. "Our community has waited a long time for this and now we can proudly let the rest of Canada and the world know that the Fort has returned to Fort Saskatchewan."
The 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, for instance forestry, mining, agriculture and fisheries, and 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 (CAF) in the West or Canada's Economic Action Plan for more information.
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For more information, contact:
Rohit Sandhu
A/Regional Manager, Communications
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Edmonton, Alberta
Tel: (780) 495-8570
Wendy Kinsella
Director of Communications and Marketing City of Fort Saskatchewan Tel: (780) 992-6155
If there is a discrepancy between any printed version and the electronic version of this news release, the electronic version will prevail.
WD Toll-Free Number:1 888 338-WEST (9378)
Teletypewriter (TTY): 1 877 303-3388
Website: www.wd-deo.gc.ca.
This news release is available online at: www.actionplan.gc.ca.