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<p><font face="Arial"></font><font face="Arial" size="+1"></font><font face="Arial" size="+1"><strong>April 30, 2004 <em>(11:30 a.m. EDT)</em> No. 65</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial" size="+1"><strong>GOVERNMENT RENEWS INVESTMENT FUNDING FOR CANADIAN
COMMUNITIES</strong></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Minister of State (Infrastructure) and Minister responsible for Canada Mortgage and
Housing Corporation Andy Scott, on behalf of Minister of International Trade Jim
Peterson, today announced the renewal of the Government of Canada's program to
attract and retain foreign direct investment in Canadian communities. The Community
Investment Support Program (CISP), formerly the Program for Export Market
Development - Investment (PEMD-I), will be in place for another five years, funded by
up to $5 million per year.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">"Communities are engines for economic growth and key to Canada's ability to compete
effectively in the 21st century," said Minister Peterson. "I am proud to announce the
renewed funding of this very successful initiative. The CISP will continue to help our
cities and towns compete for investment and talent from around the world."</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">"Communities like Fredericton are the building blocks of this nation," said Minister Scott.
"The CISP will ensure that municipalities from coast to coast to coast will have the
ability to foster innovation and economic growth in their own part of Canada."</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Under the CISP, communities can apply for up to 50 percent in matching funds to assist
in the development and execution of local investment attraction strategies. Applications
are evaluated according to their quality and innovation, anticipated economic benefits
and the level of public-private sector partnership.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">In addition to funding renewal, Treasury Board approved enhancements that will better
serve clients. These include a more streamlined application process and a renewed
commitment to the audit and reporting function that will build in checks and balances at
all stages of the process.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">The program was originally launched in 1998 by Investment Partnerships Canada, then
an arm of Industry Canada, as PEMD-I. Since the program's inception, 285
communities across Canada have received support for 872 projects, valued at over $20
million.</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial">- 30 -</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">A backgrounder is attached.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">For further information, media representatives may contact:</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Jacqueline LaRocque<br>
Director of Communications<br>
Office of the Minister of International Trade<br>
(613) 992-7332</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Media Relations Office<br>
Foreign Affairs Canada and International Trade Canada<br>
(613) 995-1874<br>
</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Andrew Holland<br>
Office of the Minister of State (Infrastructure) and<br>
Minister responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation<br>
(506) 452-3516</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">This document is also available on the Internet site of Foreign Affairs Canada and
International Trade Canada: <a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20071123085146/http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/">http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</a>.</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial" size="+1"><strong>Backgrounder</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial" size="+1"><strong>THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT SUPPORT PROGRAM</strong></font><font face="Arial"></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">The Community Investment Support Program (CISP) assists community economic
development organizations working at the regional and municipal levels in attracting,
retaining and expanding foreign direct investment. It replaces the Program for Export
Market Development (PEMD-I), which was created in 1998.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">The CISP provides up to 50 percent of a community's eligible investment
attraction-related costs, to a maximum of $300,000 per year.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">The program supports communities through two categories of projects:</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">• Category 1 provides $1,000 to $50,000 in assistance.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial"> Category 1 supports activities related to research, training and community profile
development. This category is directed toward communities positioned in the
early stages of investment attraction readiness.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">• Category 2 provides $20,000 to $300,000 in assistance.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial"> Category 2 funding is directed to communities that have completed their basic
research and are prepared to proceed with developing a comprehensive
attraction strategy. Examples of activities supported within this category include
identifying targets, developing databases of investment contacts, creating an
investment attraction strategy and developing and upgrading Web sites.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Annual funding for the CISP is sourced from International Trade Canada's (ITCan)
budget for ongoing activities. The program is managed by Investment Partnerships
Canada and is delivered by international trade centres (ITCs) located across Canada.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">The CISP provides an updated application and adjudication process, which is more
timely and user friendly. The updated program also limits communities to one
application per year. Furthermore, the CISP regularizes the timing of all adjudications
across Canada, aiming for consistent starts at the beginning of each fiscal year.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">All applications are evaluated by an adjudication committee established within each
ITC. Committees are chaired by the Senior Trade Commissioner and include
participation from the public and private sectors, as well as provincial officials.</font></p>
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