News Release

For immediate release
May 6, 2004

Project Announced to Restore the View

Cape Breton Island, N.S. – A significant project aimed to improve tourism destinations throughout Cape Breton Island was announced today by the Honourable Mark Eyking, MP for Sydney-Victoria and Rodger Cuzner, MP for Bras d’Or-Cape Breton.

The North of Smokey Fishermen’s Association will spearhead a project to restore scenic vistas throughout Cape Breton Island. The project represents phase IV of the Viewscapes program, originally initiated by Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation (ECBC) in 1997. It will involve maintenance to all sites completed to date, as well as clearing work on new strategic sites across the Island. Clearing will be carried out through selective cutting, pruning and/or thinning to help reduce future growth.

“The Cabot Trail is the number one attraction for tourists travelling to Nova Scotia and ranks as one of the most scenic drives in North America,” said the Honourable Mark Eyking. “The Viewscapes program was developed to build on this natural beauty, making our dramatic scenery more accessible to the travelling public. Visitors are encouraged to stay longer, thus benefiting the local economy.”

“The natural beauty of Cape Breton Island has been a major contributor to the growth of the Island’s tourism industry,” said MP Rodger Cuzner. “Unfortunately vegetation growth over the years had obscured our breathtaking scenery. Through the Viewscapes program, over 50 sites have been restored much to the delight of tourists and Islanders alike. We are pleased to see this important work continue.”

The total estimated cost of Phase IV of the project is $800,000. ECBC will provide a non-repayable contribution totalling $600,000 through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency’s Strategic Community Investment Fund.

“This short term adjustment initiative is designed to offset the adverse effects felt in recent years by the closure of the cod fisheries, in particular, in coastal communities,” says Osborne Burke, president of the North of Smokey Fishermen’s Association. “It is wonderful to see this assistance providing for such a worthwhile program, while securing work for a number of individuals affected by the closure.”

The Strategic Community Investment Fund provides $135 million over five years to help communities in Atlantic Canada create an environment that encourages and enhances economic development

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.



FOR BROADCAST USE ONLY:

A PROJECT AIMED AT IMPROVING TOURISM DESTINATIONS THROUGHOUT CAPE BRETON ISLAND WAS ANNOUNCED TODAY BY THE HONOURABLE MARK EYKING, MP FOR SYDNEY-VICTORIA AND RODGER CUZNER, MP FOR BRAS D’OR-CAPE BRETON.

THE NORTH OF SMOKEY FISHERMEN’S ASSOCIATION HAS RECEIVED A $600,000 NON-REPAYABLE CONTRIBUTION THROUGH ECBC TO SPEARHEAD PHASE IV OF THE VIEWSCAPES PROGRAM, TO RESTORE SCENIC VISTAS ACROSS CAPE BRETON ISLAND, AS WELL AS CLEARING WORK ON NEW SITES. THE TOTAL COST OF THIS PROJECT IS $800,000.

MP MARK EYKING SAYS THAT THIS TYPE OF PROJECT HELPS COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE ISLAND BUILD TOURIST TRAFFIC, ENCOURAGING VISITORS TO STAY LONGER. MP RODGER CUZNER ADDS THAT THROUGH THE VIEWSCAPES PROGRAM, OVER 50 SITES HAVE BEEN RESTORED MUCH TO THE DELIGHT OF TOURISTS AND ISLANDERS ALIKE.


FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT:

Stephen Heckbert
Office of the Honourable Joseph McGuire
Tel: (613) 948-7293

John Coady
Office of Mark Eyking, MP
Sydney-Victoria
Tel: (902) 567-6275

Office of Rodger Cuzner, MP
Bras d’Or-Cape Breton
Tel: (902) 842-9763

Osborne Burke
President, North of Smokey Fishermen’s Association
Tel: (902) 285-2276

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