News Release

EDS CANADA ANNOUNCES 600 JOBS

For Immediate Release
March 14, 2002

Port Hawkesbury (Nova Scotia) – Members of Parliament, Rodger Cuzner (Bras d’or – Cape Breton) and Mark Eyking (Sydney-Victoria), joined officials from EDS Canada today to announce the creation of up to 600 new jobs on Cape Breton Island by the end of 2002. EDS Canada has finalized a contract with a Fortune 500 company that will result in approximately 300 additional employees at the EDS Sydney Customer Interaction Centre, followed by 300 jobs at the EDS Port Hawkesbury Centre. 

These 600 jobs will bring the total EDS employee population on Cape Breton Island to over 1500, making it the single largest private sector employer on the Island. 

“The jobs at the EDS Port Hawkesbury centre will result in millions of dollars in direct wages and salaries annually. In addition there will be spin-off jobs in the community. This will be a tremendous boost to the economy of the area,” said Rodger Cuzner, M.P. for Bras d’Or – Cape Breton.

“Cape Breton Island is a great place to live and to do business. Our skilled and loyal workforce is our strongest asset. By creating an additional 600 jobs, EDS is demonstrating its continued commitment to our community,” said Mark Eyking, M.P. for Sydney –Victoria.

The Right Honourable Jean Chrétien announced the establishment of the EDS Canada customer interaction center in March 2000. The Government of Canada, through Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation and the Cape Breton Growth Fund Corporation provided assistance totalling $13million.

In February 2001, the Government of Canada, through ECBC and the CBGF, provided a total of $4.5million to EDS for the establishment of its Port Hawkesbury Customer Interaction Centre.


FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT:

Rodger Cuzner, M.P.
Tel. 902-842-9763

Mark Eyking, M.P.
Tel. 902-567-6275

Marcie Stanley, ECBC 
Communications
Tel: (902) 564-7876