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WINNIPEG - A $932,000 contribution under the Native Economic Development Program (NEDP) to a Native-owned clay products manufacturing firm in British Columbia was announced June 6, 1986, Ross Belsher, Member of Parliament for Fraser Valley East.
The contribution will assist Sumas Clay Products Ltd., of Abbotsford in carrying out an extensive modernization and expansion project that will result in reducing operation costs and doubling production capacity.
The project is to include rebuilding the old kiln and adding a new kiln with triple the capacity of the old one, improvement to the grinding and screening process, a new extruder machine for shaping and forming the product, a product stacking machine and upgrading capacity. A new business office and lab are also included.
The business was established in 1911 and last modernized in 1949. Sumas Clay Products Ltd. was established when the Upper Sumas Indian Band purchased the business in 1980.
Located on Reserve land, the business is the only manufacturer of clay specialty products in British Columbia, producing bricks, pavers and drainage tiles. Increased production capacity will allow the firm to pursue market expansion in British Columbia, Alberta and the United States.
A modernized and expanded plant assures the retention of 27 permanent and 28 part-time jobs, and the creation of nine new permanent jobs.
"Assisting Native Canadians to become masters of their own economic destiny through establishing their own business enterprises is a vital necessary government role," Mr. Belsher said. "It is the surest route Aboriginal economic self-reliance."
Representing 57 per cent of the improvement project cost, the contribution was approved under NEDP Element III (e) which may assist in the expansion and modernization of a Native-owned enterprise.
The NEDP is a five-year, special initiative administered by the Department of Regional Industrial Expansion to assist development of aboriginal economic self-reliance.
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