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Government of Canada will provide $30 million to New Brunswick to assist vulnerable communities and laid-off workers.
January 10, 2008 –- Fredericton, New Brunswick –- Rob Moore, M.P. for Fundy Royal, today welcomed the Prime Minister's pledge to provide $30 million to help New Brunswick's communities and workers. The new national Community Development Trust is a $1 billion fund that will support provincial and territorial efforts to build a better future for communities who have been hurt by international economic volatility.
"This program will specifically help one industry towns facing major downturns and communities which suffer from chronic high unemployment and layoffs," said Mr. Moore. "The focus of this funding is job training and infrastructure development that leads to diversification in the local economy."
The recent downturn in the forestry sector has hurt New Brunswick's productivity. The Community Development Trust will address these issues by providing funding for research and development related to innovative uses of engineered wood, biofuels and energy efficiency. It will also support economic adjustments in New Brunswick's most vulnerable communities.
"Economic diversification is vital if New Brunswick is going to be competitive in the global marketplace," said Mr. Moore. "The concept of one industry towns is something we have to move away from. The Community Development Trust will help us turn the economic challenges of today into economic opportunities tomorrow."
The Community Development Trust will be funded out of the 2007-2008 budgetary surplus. The Trust will have a three-year lifespan starting as soon as Parliament approves the required budgetary legislation. It builds on a host of other initiatives undertaken by Canada's Government to protect the national economy from turbulence in international markets, and make Canada a stronger, more prosperous country over the long term.
Rob Moore is the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and the M.P. for Fundy Royal.
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For more information, please contact:
Sean Phelan
Special Assistant – Communications
Office of Rob Moore, M.P. Fundy Royal
(613) 996-2316
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