“Our government’s top priority is the creation of jobs, growth and long-term prosperity and our investment today will help ensure that Canadian workers can meet the demand for skilled technicians in this sector,” said MP Zimmer.

The Harper Government’s investment of $225,000 will help Northern Lights College to construct and install a tower on its Dawson Creek campus for training workers to build and maintain turbines for capturing wind-generated energy. This tower will allow students access to the training that is necessary to attain the certification that is required by most wind turbine companies.

“British Columbia, and in particular Northeastern British Columbia, has seen exciting growth in the wind energy sector over the past few years,” said Laurie Rancourt, President and CEO of Northern Lights College. “As BC’s Energy College, Northern Lights College is proud to deliver the province’s only BZEE certified Wind Turbine Maintenance program. We are grateful for this generous contribution from Western Economic Diversification which will support the installation of our wind turbine training tower which will become a critical component of this program.”

The Harper Government remains focused on four priorities, as outlined by the Prime Minister that Canadians care most about: their families, the safety of our streets and communities, their pride in being a citizen of this country, and their personal financial security.

Since 2006, the Harper Government, through WD, has invested in job-creating small and medium-sized businesses, aerospace, marine and defence industries, and supported innovative entrepreneurs in pursuing emerging markets. By continuing to promote new economic opportunities, WD is helping to create jobs, economic growth, and long-term prosperity.

For additional information, contact (media only):

Jaime Burke
Communications Manager
Western Economic Diversification – BC Region
Telephone: 604-666-1318

Jennifer Fernandes
Director of Marketing
Northern Lights College
Fort St. John, B.C.
Telephone: 250-782-5251 ext 2090

WD Toll-Free Number: 1-888-338-WEST (9378)
Teletypewriter (TTY): 1-877-303-3388
WD Website: www.wd-deo.gc.ca.
Subscribe to our news updates and keep up-to-date on the latest from WD. Follow us on Twitter at @WD_Canada

Toronto – Bob Zimmer, MP was at the Bombardier Aerospace de Havilland Plant in Toronto, Canada, over the May long weekend. Mr. Zimmer toured the manufacturing and assembly plant to view the Bombardier Q400 where he caught a glimpse of the first WestJet Q400! These same aircraft will soon be flying into Fort St. John to provide greater access to Northeastern British Columbia.

“Like Prime Minister Stephen Harper, I am disappointed in the developments that have occurred in recent weeks. As the Prime Minister stated, there is no place in public office for those who seek to use it for their own, personal benefit.

“It was our Conservative Government that introduced and passed the Federal Accountability Act. This legislation strengthened the powers of the Auditor General, toughened the role of the Ethics Commissioner, reformed political parties financing, and strengthened auditing and accountability within federal departments.

“In addition to these changes, we have heard from Canadians about the need to reform the Senate. It is clear that the status quo cannot continue, and changes need to be made as quickly as possible.

“Our Conservative Government has asked the Supreme Court of Canada to consider whether various proposed reforms can be done by Parliament alone. While we wait for this judgment, we are taking further steps to accelerate changes to the Senate’s rules on expenses and closing any loopholes in the existing rule.

“I did not enter public office for personal gain, but to make Canada a better place. I believe we are moving Canada in the right direction and making a positive difference in the lives of all Canadians.

“I take the role of Member of Parliament for Prince George-Peace River extremely seriously and I have the utmost respect for the accountability rules that have been established to ensure your taxpayer dollars are used appropriately.”

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For more information: 613-947-4524

“The Alaska Highway is a critical element of local, regional, provincial, national and international infrastructure, providing benefits to thousands of Canadians and Americans daily,” said Minister Ambrose. “These upgrades will create local jobs and benefit the regional economy for years to come.”

“Our Government is committed to ensuring the safety of its public infrastructure. This investment is part of an ongoing program of work to ensure that the highway is well maintained and continues to provide safe and reliable access to the thousands of Canadians who rely on the Alaska Highway,” said Bob Zimmer, Member of Parliament for Prince George–Peace River.

The work will involve grade strengthening in the Steamboat Hill area, from kilometres 540 to 553, as well as culvert replacements at kilometre 230. Additional minor projects will also be undertaken on other sections of the highway. These projects will include: repairs to the road in the Steamboat Hill area that has deteriorated over the years due to poor drainage, leading to major ruts and potholes; replacing two collapsed culverts at kilometre 230 that are blocking the flow of water; conducting various bridge repairs, such as concrete repairs, guard rail upgrades and erosion repairs; as well as undertaking minor road repairs to address slides and erosion and improve safety.

This investment is part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, through which the Harper Government announced investments of approximately $250 million in Public Works and Government Services Canada owned infrastructure projects across the country, for a total of $320 million in funding for these assets. This federal investment is part of ongoing capital repair and maintenance program to ensure that the highway continues to provide safe service to Canadians.

Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) is responsible for maintaining an 835-kilometre section of the 2,450 kilometre-long Alaska Highway from kilometre 133, north of Fort St. John, British Columbia, to kilometre 968 at the British Columbia/Yukon border. British Columbia is responsible for the first section up to kilometre 133, and Yukon for 935 kilometres in the territory.

PWGSC is committed to a fair, open and transparent tendering process, which will be conducted through the Government Electronic Tendering System (MERX).

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Ce texte est également disponible en français.

For more information, media may contact:

Amber Irwin
Office of the Honourable Rona Ambrose
819-997-5421

Media Relations
Public Works and Government Services Canada
819-956-2315

PWGSC news releases are also available on our Internet site at http://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/medias-media/index-eng.html.

Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/PWGSC_TPSGC.

That is why I was so proud to recently announce $26 million in joint federal/provincial funding to expand and upgrade this section of Highway 97. This funding, $10.75 million of which will come from the federal government’s Building Canada Fund, will go towards widening the highway at the base of South Taylor Hill to four lanes, south from Taylor Bridge for two kilometres. Improvements will also be made to ensure truckers have a safe place to put on chains in the winter months and the slopes of the highway will be contoured to enhance slope stability.

These improvements will no doubt make travelling along this stretch of the highway safer for residents and tourist and more efficient for industrial traffic. The project will go to tender in Fall 2013, with construction beginning in Spring 2014, and is scheduled to be completed by Fall 2015.

In other news, I am pleased to report that eligible health care practitioners in our region can now apply for partial student loan forgiveness. As part of our Economic Action Plan, our Government introduced this new initiative that will embrace partial Canada Student Loan forgiveness for family doctors, nurse practitioners and nurses who work in underserved rural or remote communities.

More specifically, family doctors and residents in family medicine who begin working in a designated community will be eligible for loan forgiveness of up to $8,000 per year (to a maximum of $40,000). Under similar requirements, nurse practitioners and nurses will be eligible for forgiveness of up to $4,000 per year (to a maximum of $20,000). With these benefits now available, I encourage health care practitioners throughout our region to visit www.canlearn.ca to see if they may be eligible for this important program.

Something else that has been in the news lately that I would like to address is our Canadian Armed Forces and the issue of danger pay.

As a member of the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs, I’m proud of our strong record of supporting the Canadian Armed Forces and our Veterans.

After an arms-length committee made the decision to cut danger pay, our Government intervened to restore the compensation for soldiers currently deployed. In addition, after learning that some soldiers received more danger pay than they should have because of an administrative error, Defence Minister Peter MacKay directed his department to take measures to ensure that these individuals would not have to repay these funds.

Our Conservative Government will to take the appropriate action to ensure our men and women in uniform have the support they deserve both in the field and when they arrive home.

And finally, in Ottawa, I had the opportunity to take part in the Annual Police/Conservative MP Charity Hockey Game in Ottawa. The event raised $2,000 to support the Robert Warner Memorial Fund. It was a great night for a great cause!

Bob Zimmer and fellow Conservative MPs played with the Canadian Police Association in an annual charity hockey game. The event raised $2,000 for the Robert Warner Memorial Fund.

Bob Zimmer MP and son Kristian, an Air Cadet, celebrate Air Force Day on Parliament Hill with Colonel Andrew Downes and Capt Jean Paul Landry.

This project will widen Highway 97 at the base of South Taylor Hill to four lanes, south from Taylor Bridge for two kilometres. Improvements will be made to the intersections of Big Bam and Johnson Roads, and a larger truck chain-up area will be built to ensure truckers have a safe place to put on chains in the winter months. The slopes above the highway will also be contoured to enhance slope stability.

These improvements will make travel on Highway 97 at South Taylor Hill safer for residents and tourists and more efficient for industrial traffic serving the natural gas, forestry and agricultural sectors in the region.

“These improvements to the South Taylor Hill section of the Alaska Highway have been long-awaited and will greatly improve road safety for residents and travelers alike,” said Bob Zimmer, Member of Parliament for Prince George—Peace River, on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. “Our government is proud to provide significant funding for this project as we focus on creating jobs, promoting growth and building strong, prosperous communities across Canada.”

The Government of Canada is setting aside up to $10.75 million through the Building Canada Fund-Major Infrastructure Component for this project, with the Province of British Columbia providing $15.25 million, for a total project cost of $26 million.

Federal funding under the Major Infrastructure Component is conditional upon the completion of a review of the project, the completion of environmental assessments and the signing of a contribution agreement.

The project will go to tender in Fall 2013, with construction starting in Spring 2014 and scheduled for completion by Fall 2015. This work will build on the $800 million invested in highway improvements in the Peace Region since 2001.

“Everyone who lives in and travels through the Peace Region understands the importance of the Highway 97 corridor to our livelihoods,” said Peace River South MLA Blair Lekstrom, on behalf of Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Mary Polak. “Safety on B.C. highways is a priority, and this expansion and upgrade at South Taylor Hill will significantly increase safety for local traffic, for tourists and for commercial traffic supporting B.C.’s natural gas, forestry and agricultural sectors.”

Canada’s Economic Action Plan 2013 is delivering a new Building Canada Plan to build roads, bridges, subways, commuter rail, and other public infrastructure in cooperation with provinces, territories, and municipalities. Thanks to the Government of Canada’s leadership and our strong economic and financial fundamentals, the Canadian economy has recovered from the global recession better than most other industrialized countries. Canada has been a leader among G-7 countries throughout the recovery with more than 950,000 net new jobs created since July 2009. The new Building Canada Plan, combined with other federal infrastructure investments, supports Canada’s infrastructure advantage, a key enabler of economic growth and job creation.

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For additional information about federal investments in infrastructure and to stay up-to-date with Web feeds, visit www.infrastructure.gc.ca. To find out what the Government of Canada is doing to promote jobs, growth and prosperity, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.

Learn more about transportation projects happening throughout B.C. at: www.th.gov.bc.ca/tranprojectsbc/.

Connect with the Province of British Columbia at www.gov.bc.ca/connect.

For more information, contact:

Geneviève Sicard
Office of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure, Communities, Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
13-991-0700

Kate Trotter
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
250-356-8241

Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251
Toll free: 1-877-250-7154

Since taking office in 2006, our Government has pursued a positive agenda to make Canada’s economy stronger, helping to create more good, high-quality jobs. This has included lowering taxes over 150 times (lowering the average family’s tax bill by over $3,200), supporting entrepreneurs (lowering taxes on job-creating businesses), and opening more markets to Canadian goods with increased trade deals.

This agenda has kept Canada’s economy on the right path and Economic Action Plan 2013 continues our focus on job creation and economic growth with more positive initiatives.

For instance, we’re increasing skills and training support by introducing the new Canada Job Grant and improving the on-reserve Income Assistance Program to help more Canadians get high-quality, well-paying jobs. We are also helping businesses succeed by extending the Accelerated Capital Cost Allowance to encourage manufacturers to invest in new equipment, extending the “hiring credit” for small business, and by making strategic investments in world class research and innovation.

Included in Economic Action Plan 2013 is our Government’s plan to make the largest federal investment in job-creating infrastructure in Canadian history – $70 billion over 10 years. This investment will help to build and repair roads, bridges, rail, and much more in communities across Canada.

As a Member of the Veterans Affairs Committee, I am pleased that we are also supporting and honouring our veterans by enhancing the Funeral Burial. We have listened to the concerns of our nations’ veterans and are taking appropriate action.

We are also supporting families by enhancing new tax relief for families adopting a child and those using home-care services, and making baby clothes and sports equipment tariff-free which should lead to lower prices for consumers.

Economic Action Plan 2013 makes common sense changes to the way government is run and the way taxpayers’ money is spent. Not only will these changes help to create a more efficient government, but will lead the way toward returning to balanced budgets in 2015. At the same time, our plan confirms our continued all-time record support for hospitals, schools, and other important health and social services in British Columbia.

In other news, I recently had the opportunity to make several infrastructure funding announcements throughout Northern BC. My first stops were Houston and Telkwa to announce funding for two projects on behalf of our Conservative Government. I then headed to Dawson Creek to announce $23,800 in federal funding for upgrades to the Dawson Creek Regional Airport, and then to Fort St. John to announce $1.2 million in funding to support the addition of a micro-hydro unit to the City’s wastewater system and the construction of a district energy system at the Pomeroy Sports Centre. These projects will help to create jobs and strengthen our local economy.

Back on Parliament Hill, I recently spoke before the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding my proposal to change the name of our riding to Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies. The Northern Rockies Regional District has a land area of 85,111.07 square kilometres, representing a significant portion of our electoral district. I believe changing the name will better represent the people and communities located within our riding.

As always, if you would like to get in touch with me, please feel free to contact my office in Fort St. John at 250-787-1194, Dawson Creek at 250-719-6848, Prince George at 250-561-7982, or Ottawa at 613-947-4524.

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