Government of Canada Supports Forestry by Tackling the Spruce Budworm Pest

FREDERICTON, March 29, 2018 /CNW/ - Forestry is of critical importance to the Canadian economy as a source of jobs, prosperity and opportunity. Protecting forest resources, renewing the forest industry and supporting the workers and communities that depend on it remain a priority for our government.

Parliamentary Secretary Kim Rudd, on behalf of the Honourable Jim Carr, Canada's Minister of Natural Resources, today highlighted the federal government's recent $74.75-million, five-year investment to combat the spruce budworm in Atlantic Canada.

The funding, announced in Budget 2018, will help reduce the effects of the spruce budworm, protect our forests and forest-dependent communities, fund science and research, and strengthen Atlantic Canada's economy.

The spruce budworm is the most destructive pest for spruce?fir forests in Canada. Outbreaks can result in significant losses of important timber and non-timber resources, negatively affecting the forest industry and forestry-dependent communities.

The Early Intervention Strategy (EIS) is a new pest management approach that involves a suite of integrated research, insect monitoring and treatment activities. The collaborative research approach promoted by the EIS through the Healthy Forest Partnership will facilitate uptake of its results in other regions and provinces. Other provinces facing spruce budworm outbreaks will be able to use this innovative approach to mitigate current and future outbreaks of the insect in their region.

The Government of Canada and its partners will continue to work together to support the development of proactive, early intervention strategies aimed at slowing the spread of this forest pest.

Quotes

"We are acutely aware of the threat that forest pests pose to Canada's forests. Our government values the tremendous contributions of workers in the forest industry and will continue to support it by investing in strategies like these. We will continue to work closely with provinces, universities and industry ? all with the common goal of finding a way to keep these pest populations low, slow their spread and minimize the damage to our beautiful trees and forests."

Kim Rudd
Parliamentary Secretary to Canada's Minister of Natural Resources

"The spruce budworm poses a significant threat to the forests of New Brunswick and Atlantic Canada. The federal government's budget allocation of $74.75 million to address this pest population will further enable collaboration between all levels of government and industry and will provide funding that will benefit our community's leading research institutions. This funding investment is critical to safeguarding New Brunswick's natural beauty and supports the forestry sector, which is an integral part of our economy."

Matt DeCourcey
Member of Parliament, Fredericton

Associated Links

Backgrounder 
Eat, Prey, Love ? Stopping the Spruce Budworm
Healthy Forest Partnership

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SOURCE Natural Resources Canada