First Nations persons of the Nicola Valley will have more job opportunities in the Forestry sector thanks to a $500,000 contribution from Ottawa last week.

Stockwell Day, president of the Treasury Board, and minister responsible for British Columbia, announced June 19 an investment of over $500,000 to benefit Nicola Similkameen Innovative Forestry Society.

The Nicola Similkameen Innovative Forestry Society is an umbrella organization where major licensees work closely with First Nation communities in the co-management of natural resources.

“$150,000 will go to a project right in this area,” said Day. “That involves the thinning out of some of the fire fuel concern area, dealing with trees; also some of the funding goes to training, monitoring and it’s providing local employment for forestry related issues.”

“This does a couple things: it gives the forestry industry a lot of fire protection, it involves the health of forests and provides jobs,” said Day. “Fire is always a concern. That is why projects like these go a long way to reducing the fire threat.”

“This money comes from what’s called the community adjustment fund,” said Day. “Looking at communities of less th
an 250,000 people where they have been hit not just by global downturn, but the downturn of the forestry industry.”

“The Job Opportunities Program has been a tremendous success since we launched it in 2008,” said MLA Ben Stewart. “The fact that we were able to approve so many projects really shows that non profits, businesses and local governments are interested in helping good workers deal with the downturn in the economy.”

“The projects are just getting started here,” said Jerry Canuel, chairperson for the NSIFS. “It’s now going to go through the process where contracts will be set up through our CEO.”