Released on June 26, 2009
David Anderson, Member of Parliament for Cypress Hills - Grasslands and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources and to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food for the Canadian Wheat Board and Thunder Creek MLA Lyle Stewart on behalf of Agriculture Minister Bob Bjornerud, announced support from the Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan to help the Riverhurst Irrigation District Inc. and Luck Lake Irrigation District, Inc. strengthen economic opportunities in the communities of Riverhurst, Central Butte, Lucky Lake and Birsay, and the Rural Municipalities of Maple Bush, Enfield, Coteau and Canaan.
"Today's announcement is about helping our producers during these challenging times," said Anderson. "I'm pleased to announce our Government's support for irrigation projects in the Riverhurst and Luck Lake Irrigation Districts. Investments such as this are creating and protecting jobs, while addressing the challenges the agriculture sector faces."
"This funding will provide long-term benefits for irrigation producers and their local communities," Stewart said. "Agriculture will continue to be a vital part of our economy as we work to ensure continued growth in our province."
The Irrigation Districts will oversee design and construction of works to support irrigation infill including structures, pipelines, drains, pumps and power grids, which will service areas approved for irrigation development by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture.
Federal funding of $3,330,000 is being provided under the Community Adjustment Fund (CAF). The Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture is contributing an additional $370,000.
The Riverhurst Irrigation District project will affect the communities of Riverhurst and Central Butte, and the Rural Municipalities of Maple Bush and Enfield.
"This funding will help our district further irrigation plans and provide irrigation to younger farmers to develop their land," Riverhurst Irrigation District Inc. Vice Chair Dale Ewen said. "In the future, the community hopes to attract agricultural industries."
The Luck Lake Irrigation District project will affect the communities of Lucky Lake and Birsay, and Rural Municipalities of Coteau and Canaan.
"The community sees a great benefit from irrigation," Luck Lake Irrigation District, Inc. Chairman Roy King said. "Increasing the acreage of irrigated farmland gives more people an opportunity to see these benefits."
Together, these projects will result in 32 long-term sustainable jobs in the agriculture industry plus 118 long-term jobs associated with supporting and servicing the industry.
A part of Canada's Economic Action Plan, the Community Adjustment Fund is a two-year, $1 billion national program that will provide an economic stimulus by supporting projects that create jobs and maintain employment in rural communities.
The fund will provide $306 million over two years to support the most affected western Canadian communities, such as those that are heavily reliant on resource-based industries, for instance forestry, mining, agriculture and fisheries, and communities that depend on the manufacturing industry. Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) is delivering the fund in the four western provinces.
For more information on the Community Adjustment Fund, please visit: www.wd-deo.gc.ca or call toll-free 1 888 338-WEST (9378).
To learn more about Canada's Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.
-30-
For more information, contact:
Joanne Mysak
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Saskatoon
Phone: 306-975-5942
Marianne Walsh
Agriculture
Regina
Phone: 306-7871077
Email: marianne.walsh@gov.sk.ca
Lorne Jackson
Riverhurst Irrigation District Inc.
Riverhurst
Phone: 306-353-2070
Roy King
Luck Lake Irrigation District, Inc.
Lucky Lake
Phone: 306-573-4708