FOREST CENTRE BUILDING TO GO AHEAD

Construction of the Saskatchewan Forest Centre building will proceed as planned at its site in downtown Prince Albert.

Industry and Resources Minister Eric Cline today released a status report on the building project compiled by his Deputy Minister, Larry Spannier. Cline asked for the report two weeks ago after allegations in the media and the Legislature that the building was proceeding too quickly and did not have the support of the industry and the community.

"We wanted to ensure this building project still had solid support," Cline said. "The evidence in the report from my Deputy Minister is that the support is overwhelming for the building, and on that basis the project will continue."

Spannier was asked to assess the level of support for the project within the Saskatchewan Forest Centre board of directors, the forest industry, Aboriginal stakeholder groups, and the community of Prince Albert. During his review, Spannier met with forestry and community representatives and received numerous letters in support of the new Saskatchewan Forest Centre building and its downtown Prince Albert location.

Spannier's report indicated support for a permanent Saskatchewan Forest Centre building was now greater than when the project was first announced in July 2002, and it recommended proceeding with the building project. The report also noted that the downtown site for the building would be less expensive than a proposed site at SIAST.

Saskatchewan Opportunities Corporation (SOCO) will own and operate the building, leasing space to the Saskatchewan Forest Centre, Saskatchewan Environment and private-sector forest technology companies.

More than 70 per cent of the building space is already spoken for, enough to ensure that the building will break even in its first year of operation. It is expected more than 90 per cent of available space will be leased out by the time the building is ready for occupancy in the fall of 2004.

"The industry and community have spoken, and this project is now back on track," Cline said. "The Saskatchewan Forest Centre building will be a key part of the future, value-added development of Saskatchewan's forest industry, and it will be no less important to the growth and prosperity of the Prince Albert area and northern Saskatchewan."

The building status report can be found at www.ir.gov.sk.ca/sfcbuilding.

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For More Information, Contact:

Bob Ellis Industry and Resources Regina Phone: (306)787-8277