TOKYO, JAPAN - The Honourable Joe Oliver, Canada's Minister of Natural Resources, the Honourable Steve Thomson, Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations for British Columbia and representatives from Canada's forest industry announced $4.5 million for the Canada-Tohoku Reconstruction Project.

The Government of Canada through Natural Resources Canada, will contribute $2 million toward this initiative. The Government of British Columbia is providing $2 million, and Canada's forest industry is donating $500,000.

These funds will be used to support the construction of one or more community facilities such as a school or elderly care centre in the Tohoku region, using sustainably harvested Canadian Wood Products.

The funding announcement is in addition to the more than $40 million in cash and in-kind donations contributed by Canadians and Canadian incorporations, including $1.5 million that was previously provided by the Province and forest industry to the Red Cross for humanitarian aid.

Learn more:

• Federal government news release: http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/media-room/home/1784

Media contacts:

Patricia Best
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister
Natural Resources Canada
613-996-2007

Cheekwan Ho
Public Affairs Officer
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
250-356-5621