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| News Release Index |
News Release
For immediate releases May 10, 2001
GOVERNMENT OF CANADA ASSISTED UPGRADE OF ST. PETER'S MARINA KEY TO INCREASING BOATING VISITORS
ST. PETER'S, N.S. -- The strategically located St. Peter's Marina is undergoing extensive modernization and expansion work with assistance from the Government of Canada. The result will be a first class facility for visiting boaters at the entrance to the popular boating destination, the Bras d'Or Lake.
The Marina is run by the St. Peter's and Area Lions Club, who are very active in community affairs and development.
The work includes extensive renovations to the marina building, rehabilitation of the main wharf structure including the installation of power, boardwalk and a sewage pump out station and the construction and installation of another section of floating dock. The total estimated cost of the project is $730,000 and Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation will contribute $500,000 through the Fisheries Restructuring Adjustment Measures (FRAM) program. Human Resources Development Canada will contribute $79,638 through its Job Creation Partnership program, and the Municipality of the County of Richmond will contribute $20,000. One marina manager position will be maintained, two seasonal positions will be created as well as five short term construction jobs.
"Each year sees an increasing number of visitors flocking to the Bras d'Or Lakes which has enormous untapped potential as a boating destination. The St. Peter's Marina provides an excellent sheltered area for mooring and docking and important services to vessels entering the Lakes or returning to the Atlantic Ocean," said Rodger Cuzner, Member of Parliament for Bras d'Or, speaking on behalf of the Honourable Robert Thibault, Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and ECBC and the Honourable Jane Stewart, Minister of Human Resources Development Canada. "Upgrading this vital community facility will bring benefits to the area's tourism industry and businesses as more and more boating visitors are drawn to the community."
"The St. Peter's and Area Lions Club takes great pride in its community work and the operation of this marina is an important part of that service. With the Government of Canada's assistance we are improving a facility that serves not only this community's recreation and business sectors but also improves the region's entire tourism industry infrastructure," said Gerry Gibson, Marina Manager. "This support also recognizes the strong support in the community for this Club and the marina."
Work is underway and is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
The marina saw a 33 percent increase in transient boating traffic since a previous upgrade was completed in 1998 with vessels visiting from Atlantic Canada, and as far away as California and Europe. By the year 2002 the number of transient boaters making use of the marina is expected to reach 1000. Research has determined that boaters look for less crowded, friendly waterways and value for their money and this puts the St. Peter's Marina in a favourable position to take advantage of this demand.
Funding for these projects was provided for in the February 2000 budget and is therefore built into the existing financial framework.
In June 1998, the Government of Canada announced that $93.8 million would be set aside for the economic development component of the $730 million Fisheries Restructuring and Adjustment Measures (FRAM) in the four Atlantic provinces. The amount available for affected communities in Nova Scotia is $21.3 million. This amount is available over three years for long-term, sustainable economic development initiatives in communities and areas in Nova Scotia affected by the permanent downsizing of the Atlantic groundfishery. On Cape Breton Island, ECBC works in partnership with key regional and community development stakeholders to implement the economic development initiatives of the FRAM program.
Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation offers programs in support of economic development initiatives and is responsible for delivering ACOA programs in Cape Breton and the Mulgrave area.
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For Further Information Contact:
Tina Thibeau
Communication Assistant
Office of Rodger Cuzner, M.P.
613-992-7848
D.A. Landry, ECBC
Director, Communications
Tel: (902) 564-3617
Fax:(902) 564-3825
Murielle Gionet MacNeil
Human Resources Development Canada
(902) 625-4130
Gerry Gibson, Marina Manager
St. Peters and Area Lions Club
Tel: (902) 535-3045
Cell: (902) 227-0567
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| Last Update: 2001-11-23 |
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