Groundbreaking for Tsawwassen First Nation Industrial Park

TSAWWASSEN, BC, June 21 /CNW/ - A new industrial park was launched by the Tsawwassen First Nation near Deltaport today, marking TFN's first major economic initiative after it was established as B.C.'s first urban Treaty First Nation. The park, called the Tsawwassen Gateway Logistics Centre, marks the beginning of the implementation of TFN's development plans for its industrial lands.

"The Tsawwassen Gateway Logistics Centre is an important partnership between the Government of Canada, a First Nation and the private sector," said Stockwell Day, President of the Treasury Board and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway and British Columbia, on behalf of Canada's Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, John Baird. "Today's groundbreaking is an excellent example of the Government of Canada's commitment to stimulate our local economy, while supporting the Tsawwassen First Nation's goals to develop a sustainable, vibrant, and self-sufficient community."

"We are excited to see this as the first step of our industrial lands strategy that we developed last year after becoming a Treaty First Nation in 2009. Celebrating the beginning of building our economy with the groundbreaking of the Tsawwassen Gateway Logistics Centre on National Aboriginal Day is very fitting," said TFN Chief Kim Baird. "We are looking forward to seeing the Tsawwassen Gateway Logistics Centre play a significant role in the transportation and supply chain sectors. We appreciate the role of the Government of B.C. and the Government of Canada as partners in this development under Canada's Economic Action Plan."

B.C.'s Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Shirley Bond said, "The Tsawwassen Gateway Logistics Centre is a significant economic achievement for Tsawwassen First Nation since becoming a true self-governing Nation in 2009. The Government of B.C. is proud to be a partner in the development of this key project. We want to congratulate TFN Chief Kim Baird for her leadership and commitment to this important economic stimulus project."

The federal contribution to this project comes from the $4-billion Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, which provides funding to provincial, territorial and municipal construction-ready infrastructure projects. Since March 2009, almost 400 projects have received a total federal investment of over $500 million under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund across British Columbia.

The Province is contributing over $3 million to extend services to the development site. Since October 2008, over $5.3 billion has been committed for accelerated capital projects across British Columbia, which is estimated to generate more than 34,000 construction jobs over the life of the projects.

The groundbreaking, attended by senior representatives of the Government of B.C., Government of Canada, and local business and municipal leaders, celebrates the development of the Tsawwassen Gateway Logistics Centre by the TFN Economic Development Corporation. The Logistics Centre is located adjacent to Deltaport, Canada's largest container port complex and bulk commodities terminal, and abuts major rail lines and highways. It will act as a prime transportation hub, linking the Lower Mainland to customers throughout North America.

For further information: James Kusie, Office of Canada's Transport and Infrastructure Minister, 613-991-0700; Infrastructure Canada: 613-948-1148; Jeff Knight, Public Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, 250-356-7707; Chris Hartman, CEO, TFN Economic Development Corporation, 604-828-0021