Today's opening of Atlas Roofing Corporation's facility on Annacis Island is further proof that the BC Jobs Plan is working, bringing new investments and new jobs to the province.

This $20-million investment will create 35 full-time jobs, as well as work for seasonal employees. Manufacturing investment is very welcome in British Columbia and is fully in line with the BC Jobs Plan's emphasis on creating well-paying, family-supporting employment opportunities.

Atlas will employ state-of-the-art laminating and blowing-agent technologies to produce polyiso insulation board in a 13,935-square-metre (150,000-square-foot) facility. Polyiso insulation is used for roofing and walls in residential, commercial and industrial buildings and is a proven leader in energy saving insulation and reducing carbon use.

Atlas Roofing Corporation, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, has 19 manufacturing plants in North America in four major divisions:

• residential roofing products.

• commercial building materials.

• web technologies.

• Atlas EPS.

This is the company's eighth polyiso plant in North America and second in Canada after Toronto. Production will be targeted to customers in Western Canada and Northwestern U.S.A.

Atlas Roofing's expansion into B.C. has been guided and facilitated by the Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and its International Trade and Investment Attraction division. Ministry efforts focused on familiarizing the company's executives with the advantages of setting up in B.C., most notably B.C.'s large contingent of talented and highly-skilled workers and access to Asian markets.

Quotes:

Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour Pat Bell -

"Any time we can add manufacturing jobs to the B.C economy is a time to celebrate. But more importantly, this comes at a time when we can look objectively at our plan and see that it is working, bringing new dollars into the province and creating jobs for British Columbians."

Minister of State for Small Business Naomi Yamamoto -

"Atlas Roofing Corporation is an example to all small businesses out there that want to grow, and by investing in British Columbia and locating their plant at Canada's Pacific Gateway, I can't see anything stopping them now."

Atlas Roofing Corporation, Ken Farrish -

"Atlas looks forward to a long relationship with the citizens of British Columbia as we provide jobs and manufacture products that improve comfort and reduce energy costs in the buildings they live and work in."

Quick Facts:

• The manufacturing sector is crucial to B.C.'s economy.

• This sector directly and indirectly supports every other sector, and accounts for about three-quarters of all B.C.'s exports.

• Manufacturing comprises 11 per cent of provincial GDP and supports 400,000 direct and indirect jobs.

• 95 per cent of people who work in manufacturing earn 15 per cent more than the provincial average.

Learn More:

To read The BC Jobs Plan: One-year Update, visit: www.bcjobsplan.ca

Contact:

Media Relations
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Responsible for Labour
250 356-8177