The Lakes District Hospital and Health Centre replacement project took an important step forward today with the release of a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for a new health-care facility.

As part of ongoing community rebuilding effort, the Province is providing $2.4 million to expand a recreation centre in Burns Lake that will create jobs and support healthy family activities.

Through effective collaboration and the strong commitment of all parties involved, the recovery of Burns Lake is well underway.

The Province is investing $14.3 million in 14 different highway infrastructure improvements in the Nechako Lakes region, to improve safety for local residents and commercial drivers.

Over the next few weeks, staff from the Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation will begin to consult and work directly with a team of community leaders and tourism stakeholders from Burns Lake on tourism planning to strengthen economic opportunities for the area.

Today marked the first major step in Burns Lake's road to recovery after the destruction of the Babine Forest Products mill, thanks to a jobs fair with 24 participant booths and maximum capacity attendance from the community.

The BC Coroners Service has confirmed the identities of the two individuals found deceased in the debris of the Babine Forest Products sawmill, levelled by an explosion and fire on the evening of Jan. 20.

Forest industry veteran Bob Clark, vice-president of forestry consultants J B Clark and Co., has been recruited to lead the provincial government's on-the-ground Burns Lake economic response efforts, announced Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation Pat Bell.

Pat Bell, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation, will be leading the Province's efforts to help the community of Burns Lake recover economically from the devastating fire that destroyed the Babine Forest Products mill.