CAPE MUDGE VILLAGE, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwire) -- 11/10/12 -- Today, the Honourable John Duncan, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development and Member of Parliament for Vancouver Island North, on behalf of the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, announced federal funding for the Nuyumbalees Cultural Centre under the Harper Government's Community Infrastructure Improvement Fund (CIIF).

"The Harper Government is continuing to support communities across Canada by investing in important local infrastructure, such as the Nuyumbalees Cultural Centre," said Minister Duncan. "This project will create jobs, growth and long-term prosperity in our community."

The funding of $7,000 will help the Nuyumbalees Cultural Centre install new library shelving. The Centre currently has a collection of First Nations books that are in storage and inaccessible. With the Government of Canada funding, the Nuyumbalees Society will be able to construct shelving at the centre that can display this collection and make it accessible to members of the community and the public.

"We would like to take this opportunity to thank Minister Duncan for announcing the generous support Western Economic Diversification and the Conservative government have made to the Nuyumbalees Cultural Centre not only in the area of the library book shelves which we greatly appreciate but also support we received that is enabling us to preserve the Kwak'wala/Liqwala language." said Mr. Donald Assu, President of the Nuyumbalees Society.

CIIF supports, on a cost-shared basis, repairs and improvements to existing community infrastructure accessible to the public. Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) is delivering the Fund in Western Canada with an allocation of $46.2 million over two years.

Since 2006, the Harper Government, through WD, has invested in job-creating, small and medium-sized businesses, aerospace, marine and defence industries, and supported innovative entrepreneurs in pursuing emerging markets. By continuing to promote new economic opportunities, WD is helping to create jobs, economic growth, and long-term prosperity.

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A stronger West. A stronger Canada.

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Backgrounder

Community Infrastructure Improvement Fund

Through the Community Infrastructure Improvement Fund (CIIF), the Harper Government has committed to supporting communities and creating jobs through repairs and improvements to existing community facilities over the next two years. The Fund is being delivered by the regional development agencies across Canada. In Western Canada, Western Economic Diversification is delivering over $46 million towards eligible projects.

The construction of new infrastructure and repairs to facilities that are primarily for commercial or for-profit activities are ineligible. Facilities must be accessible for use by the public and not limited to a private membership. All projects are required to be completed by March 31, 2014.

Organizations eligible to apply for funding under CIIF include:

--  local or regional governments or related agencies; 
--  provincial entities that provide municipal-type services to communities;
--  non-profit organizations; and 
--  First Nation governments, including Band or Tribal Councils or their
    legally-designated representatives.

Examples of the type of community infrastructure that can be supported under CIIF include:

--  community centres; 
--  cultural centres; 
--  parks; 
--  libraries; 
--  recreational facilities (e.g. local arenas, swimming pools, sports
    fields, and other types of recreational facilities); 
--  tourism facilities having a local impact; and 
--  other existing community infrastructure assets which have a local
    community impact such as connectivity and broadband and local airports. 

Please refer to www.wd-deo.gc.ca for more information on the Community Infrastructure Improvement Fund.