NEWS: Forests Minister in Houston
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Transition help for workers By Jackie Lieuwen Houston Today
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Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad presented a $51,490 cheque to the District of Houston for the Houston Opportunities for Workers (H.O.W) Program last Friday. The program is for the District of Houston to hire a consultant for community transition work and to link employees impacted by the HFP closure with work opportunities in the area. Above are MLA John Rustad, Houston Mayor Bill Holmberg, Economic Development Officer Maureen Czirfusz and Steve Thomson, Minister of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations. For more photos of the Forests Minister’s visit to Houston see page 8.
The Province is providing funding for the District of Houston to hire a consultant to coordinate the HFP closure transition work. Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad announced Friday that the Province would fund $51,490 for the Houston Opportunities for Workers (H.O.W.) Labour Market Partnership program. A program of the Ministry of Jobs, Tourism, and Skills Training, H.O.W. was formed to help workers transition from the effects of the West Fraser mill closure and get connected with employment opportunities in the area. H.O.W. will launch in partnership with the District of Houston, to hire a
consultant to engage workers, local groups and stakeholders and develop a labour market strategy for Houston. “The community came forward with a request to look at how they can maximize the advantages in this area with the workers and skills that we have and to try and match them up,” said MLA Rustad. “They requested the funding and we’re very pleased, through the Community and Employer Partnership program, to be able to provide that. “This is a challenging time for Houston, but by working together we can find the best path forward,” Rustad said. A job fair is scheduled April 9 and a community information session will be held between March 3 and September 30, 2014.
Forests Minister visits Houston to discuss forest issues By Jackie Lieuwen Houston Today
Forests Minister Steve Thomson spoke to over 60 people at a Chamber of Commerce Luncheon at the Houston Legion last Friday. He summarized some of the accomplishments of the Province, including
the balanced budget and some rural development initiatives, before discussing the Houston mill closure and forestry issues. He assured the crowd of Houston business people that the B.C. Government is and will continue to work closely with the District of Houston and local and
regional service providers to minimize the mill closure impact. “[When we heard the mill closure announcement, government responded right away with a cross-ministry team that has been working in the community with you - with council, the Chamber of Commerce and busi-
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ness groups - on a number of initiatives. And I know that that work is going to continue,” he said. COMPETITION BUREAU Discussing the impending HFP closure, Minister Thomson said the Competition Bureau is still working and does not have a
timeline for when they will make a ruling. The Competition Bureau is a Federal process, which will provide an analysis and recommendations to the Province about the timber agreement, Minister Thomson explained. “Once we get that, then we’re going to have to look at what
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that analysis says and determine how we respond from that point,” he said. Mayor Bill Holmberg said the Bureau has done an extensive canvas of the Houston community, and has spoken to many local business people about their thoughts on how the HFP closure will im-
pact the area. “I have to commend them… it’s obviously a tough decision for them,” Holmberg said. Asked what power the Bureau has with their ruling, Minister Thomson said they simply provide direction, but it’s up to Province to respond. See FOREST on Page 3
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