'Canada Starts Here: The BC Jobs Plan' will continue moving forward, as the Barriere - McBride regional economic development pilot project forum is set for Monday, Jan. 16 in Valemount.

The forum will be hosted by Pat Bell, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation, along with local MLAs Shirley Bond and Terry Lake.

The Regional Economic Investment Pilot is part of the Province's initiative to engage the public to generate ideas aimed at attracting investment and job creation in areas consistent with the BC Jobs Plan.

The forum will include representatives from local government, business, industry, First Nations and education. Through sharing ideas on investment opportunities and overcoming barriers, an inventory of potential projects will be created, as well as an action plan detailing how the provincial government will assist the communities in the Barriere - McBride corridor to capitalize on opportunities.

The North Fraser communities of Pitt Meadows, Maple Ridge and Mission were the first to participate in a forum and attracted over 100 participants.

The Campbell River forum has been scheduled for Monday, Jan. 30. A decision on a fourth community, a First Nation, will be announced in a short time.

Quotes:

Prince George-Valemount MLA Shirley Bond -

"Working together with partners like MP Cathy McLeod, we have hosted roundtables and gathered important information about the strengths and challenges that need to be addressed if we want to attract jobs and investment. It is significant that the Robson Valley was one of only three areas in the province chosen for this initiative."

Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Terry Lake -

"This forum is part of the Province's ongoing engagement with our communities and First Nations partners to diversify their economic opportunities and create good jobs for families."

Valemount Mayor Andru McCracken -

"This corridor has some epic opportunities: Tourism, geothermal power, run of the river hydro, aquaculture and wood manufacturing. MLA Shirley Bond and Minister Pat Bell understand we need a hotline to just about every provincial ministry to pursue our future. This pilot gathers the resources to make way for these projects so we can attract new investment, new talent to bolster our communities."

Learn More:

To find out more about BC Jobs Plan, visit: http://www.bcjobsplan.ca/

To view video and photos from the first forum in Maple Ridge, visit: http://www.jti.gov.bc.ca/economic_pilots/index.htm

Contact:

Carolyn Heiman
Communications Manager
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation
250 387-2799