News Release

For Immediate Release
March 31, 2005

Université Sainte-Anne Receives Funding In Support of
Local Aquaculture

Petit de Grat, NS – Rodger Cuzner, MP for Cape Breton-Canso, on behalf of the Honourable Joseph McGuire, Minister for Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation (ECBC) and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), today announced funding for the Université Sainte-Anne to establish a lobster growing operation at the Petit de Grat campus.

Working in partnership with the local community, the new facility will be a base for conducting research and development work in support of the aquaculture industry. In a pilot project, technicians will breed and grow juvenile lobster in a natural environment. The Université Sainte Anne will make use of its existing laboratory and technical resources in Petit de Grat to act as a catalyst to strengthen the local industry.

“Aquaculture sales are estimated to be worth approximately
$10.2 million per year on Cape Breton Island, “says MP Cuzner. “The Government of Canada is proud to support this initiative that seeks to create opportunities by building on existing strengths.”

“The Université Sainte-Anne prides itself on building sustainable relationships between the campus and the community,” says Gabriel LeBlanc, Director of the Université Sainte-Anne campus in Petit de Grat. “This particular project will benefit the local area by developing technology that will attract investment and business opportunities to the Island.”

Université Sainte-Anne is the only French language post secondary institution in Nova Scotia. It offers courses and programs to campuses located across Atlantic Canada. The Petit de Grat campus has established itself as a leader in educational and training excellence and continues to perform a significant role in the aquaculture industry.

The total cost of the project is $797,000. ECBC will provide a non-repayable contribution of $275,625 through ACOA’s Business Development Program.

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 BROADCAST USE ONLY:

RODGER CUZNER, MP FOR CAPE BRETON-CANSO, TODAY ANNOUNCED FUNDING FOR THE UNIVERSITÉ SAINTE-ANNE IN PETIT DE GRAT TO ESTABLISH A LOBSTER GROWING OPERATION AT THE PETIT DE GRAT CAMPUS.

WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, THE NEW FACILITY WILL BE A BASE FOR CONDUCTING RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT WORK IN SUPPORT OF THE AQUACULTURE INDUSTRY.

THE PILOT PROJECT WILL BREED AND GROW JUVENILE LOBSTER IN A NATURAL ENVIRONMENT WITH A VIEW TO INCREASING LOBSTER STOCKS IN WATERS SURROUNDING ISLE MADAME.

MP CUZNER SAYS THAT THIS PROJECT SERVES TO CREATE NEW OPPORTUNITIES BY BUILDING ON THE STRENGTH OF AN EXISTING RESOURCE.

THE TOTAL COST OF THE PROJECT IS $797,000. ECBC WILL PROVIDE A NON-REPAYABLE CONTRIBUTION OF $275,625.

For More Information Contact:

Valérie Poulin
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Joseph McGuire
Minister of Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Tel: (613) 941-7241

Office of Rodger Cuzner, MP
Cape Breton-Canso
Tel: (902) 842-9763

Gabriel LeBlanc
Director, Université Sainte-Anne
Tel: (902) 226-3900

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