Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity in the House to highlight some of the positive things that are happening in my riding of Bras d'Or, Cape Breton.
The economic foundation of Cape Breton Island has been significantly challenged by the closure of the steel and coal mining industries and the collapse of the ground fishery. Despite these challenges, a renewed sense of optimism is taking hold and the Government of Canada is playing an important role in its economic renewal.
Strategic investments have been made to assist Cape Breton communities in their efforts to adjust these changing economic times and solid progress is being made. In my hometown of Glace Bay the Cape Breton growth fund has assisted in the establishment of a major information technology initiative, the Stream International call centre. Stream has created 1,000 jobs in just 10 months. This translates into $28 million annually in salaries and wages.
In the last three years the Government of Canada has contributed to the creation of more than 3,000 jobs and there has been a decline in the unemployment rate and the employment participation rate has increased. How is that for a can-do attitude?