News Release

For immediate release
July 19, 2002

ISLE MADAME CENTRE ESTABLISHED WITH GOVERNMENT OF CANADA ASSISTANCE

PETIT DE GRAT, N.S. – At a press conference held today at the Centre La Picasse in Petit de Grat, the Honourable Robert G. Thibault, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, and Rodger Cuzner, MP for Bras d’Or-Cape Breton, announced Government of Canada funding for a major marine services project for Richmond County. 

The Mouse Island Marine Centre Association will revitalize the former Richmond Fisheries wharf facility. The project will provide a secure area for winter storage of vessels, as well as providing recreational boaters and sea-faring visitors with a state-of- the-art launch and haul-out facility for their vessels. 

The total estimated cost of the project is $1,875,713. Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation (ECBC) will contribute $800,000 and $500,000 through ACOA’s Business Development Program. The project is expected to create two jobs.

Human Resources Development Canada is also contributing $126,045 through its Job Creation Partnership program which will provide work experience for six additional participants. 

"This community-driven project will capitalize on the strong local and visiting, recreational boating markets. It also ensures that an important facility in Petit de Grat gets a new lease on life and continues to make a major contribution to the economy of this area," said Minister Thibault, speaking on behalf of the Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation (ECBC), and Jane Stewart, Minister of Human Resources Development Canada. "The Government of Canada is pleased to partner with a project that has such strong ties to the community’s marine heritage."

“This project represents an investment in community infrastructure that will serve as a catalyst for further economic activity and job creation on Ile Madame,” said MP Rodger Cuzner. “Once the lift facility is in place, the potential exists for private sector interests to provide additional services such as boat repair and manufacturing, making Ile Madame a one-stop location for vessel servicing.”

The project is part of a larger plan for the site being promoted by the Centre culturel communautaire de I'Ile Madame (La Picasse). Boat repairs and the provision of secure winter storage for vessels on the site will be complemented by vessel construction and servicing in the future. 

"The crane we have purchased has an open design which will allow our facility to handle vessels of up to 150 tonnes. We appreciate the Government of Canada's investment in our community’s future given that increased marine activity will result in further economic development and job creation," said Gabriel LeBlanc, President, Mouse Island Marine Centre. 

Funding for this project was provided for in the February 2000 budget and is therefore built into the existing financial framework.

Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation offers programs in support of economic development initiatives and is responsible for delivering ACOA's programs on Cape Breton Island and in the Mulgrave area.

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FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT:

Peter A. H. Graham, Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of State for ECBC & ACOA
Tel: (613) 957-9959
Fax: (613) 941-7844

Jennifer Savoy
Office of the Honourable Robert G. Thibault
Minister of Fisheries and Oceans
Tel: (613) 996-0076
Cell: (613) 715-0356

Office of Rodger Cuzner, M.P. 
Bras d’Or-Cape Breton 
Tel.: (902) 842-9763
Fax: (902) 842-9025

D.A. Landry 
ECBC Communications 
Tel: (902) 564-3617

Gabriel LeBlanc, President
Mouse Island Marine Centre Association 
Tel: (902) 226-3900