Apr 16, 2022 | International
The Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development, will visit Brandon, Manitoba, to share news about Budget 2022: A Plan to Grow Our Economy and Make Life More Affordable. Minister Hutchings will highlight Budget 2022 commitments to increase loan forgiveness for doctors and nurses in rural and remote communities.
April 14, 2022 – Ottawa, Ontario
The Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development, will visit Brandon, Manitoba, to share news about Budget 2022: A Plan to Grow Our Economy and Make Life More Affordable. Minister Hutchings will highlight Budget 2022 commitments to increase loan forgiveness for doctors and nurses in rural and remote communities.
Date: Tuesday, April 19, 2022
Time: 9:00 a.m. (Central Time)
Location:
Brandon University
Health Sciences Complex, Main Floor Foyer
270 18th Street
Brandon, Manitoba
Notes for media
Members of the media will be able to participate on site or via teleconference.
Participation on site
Members of the media wanting to take part in person are asked to confirm their attendance with ISED Media Relations at media@ised-isde.gc.ca.
Participation via teleconference
Members of the media wanting to take part via teleconference are asked to contact ISED Media Relations at media@ised-isde.gc.ca to receive the dial-in information.
Luka Vujic
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Rural Economic Development
343-571-9582
Luka.Vujic@ised-isde.gc.ca
Media Relations
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
media@ised-isde.gc.ca
Apr 10, 2022 | International
The Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development, will visit Prince Edward Island to share news about Budget 2022: A Plan to Grow Our Economy and Make Life More Affordable.
April 8, 2022 – Ottawa, Ontario
The Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development, will visit Prince Edward Island to share news about Budget 2022: A Plan to Grow Our Economy and Make Life More Affordable. Together with Heath MacDonald, Member of Parliament for Malpeque, Minister Hutchings will highlight Budget 2022 commitments on clean air and a strong economy.
Date: Monday, April 11, 2022
Time: 9:00 a.m. (Atlantic Time)
Location:
Charging facility at Esso gas station
141 Abegweit Boulevard
Borden-Carleton, Prince Edward Island
Notes for media
Members of the media will be able to participate on site or via teleconference.
Participation on site
Members of the media wanting to take part in person are asked to confirm their attendance with ISED Media Relations at media@ised-isde.gc.ca.
Participation via teleconference
Members of the media wanting to take part via teleconference are asked to contact ISED Media Relations at media@ised-isde.gc.ca to receive the dial-in information.
Luka Vujic
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Rural Economic Development
343-571-9582
Luka.Vujic@ised-isde.gc.ca
Media Relations
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
media@ised-isde.gc.ca
Mar 8, 2022 | International
Today, the Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development, and the Honourable Lisa Beare, British Columbia’s Minister of Citizens’ Services, met with Lheidli T’enneh First Nation Chief Dolleen Logan and leaders at an event hosted by Rogers Communications in Prince George to discuss the progress of cellular coverage along the entire route of Highway 16 from Prince Rupert to Prince George.
March 7, 2022 – Prince George, British Columbia
Today, the Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development, and the Honourable Lisa Beare, British Columbia’s Minister of Citizens’ Services, met with Lheidli T’enneh First Nation Chief Dolleen Logan and leaders at an event hosted by Rogers Communications in Prince George to discuss the progress of cellular coverage along the entire route of Highway 16 from Prince Rupert to Prince George.
Jennifer Campeau, Director of Indigenous Collaboration, Rogers Communications, opened the meeting and welcomed ministers Hutchings and Beare, Chief Logan and leaders. Participants recognized the importance of the Highway of Tears Symposium Recommendations Report in identifying recommendations aimed at enhancing safety for Indigenous women and girls. Representatives of Rogers shared the company’s progress of breaking ground on its first cellular tower site this past December, as part of its wireless service expansion project. They also restated the company’s commitment to the anticipated completion date of fall 2022.
During the roundtable, both ministers heard from participants about the lack of reliable connectivity and the highway’s proximity to a rising number of temporary work camps, the need for accessible transportation options, and the work being done to end systemic racism, sexism, ableism and economic inequality that has perpetuated violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people. Both ministers also heard from Indigenous partners that more needs to be done for men and boys, not only to help address gender- and race-based violence but also to support them through violence they may experience.
The Highway of Tears is a corridor of Highway 16 between Prince George and Prince Rupert, British Columbia, and since 1970, it has been the location of many missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls (MMIWG).
Thanks to federal and provincial investments announced in April 2021, the Connecting British Columbia program and the Government of Canada’s Universal Broadband Fund provided Rogers Communications with $4.5 million in co-funding toward the $11.6 million cost of installing cellular infrastructure to provide cellular coverage along the corridor of Highway 16. This investment is key to ensuring women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, especially those who are Indigenous, can call for help and receive the services they need to ensure their safety and security.
Chief Logan and the participants thanked Minister Hutchings, Minister Beare and Rogers for their support.
Associated links
Complete cellular connectivity coming to “Highway of Tears”
Federal Pathway to Address Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People
2021 National Action Plan
Connecting British Columbia program
Universal Broadband Fund
Luka Vujic
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Rural Economic Development
343-571-9582
Luka.Vujic@ised-isde.gc.ca
Media Relations
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
343-291-1777
media@ised-isde.gc.ca
Nov 5, 2021 | International
Ottawa, Ontario
The Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development, will tour Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador from November 4 to 7, 2021. The Minister will meet with community and business leaders to discuss the needs of rural communities and federal support for rural economic development.
Media should contact Alex Howell at the coordinates below to join in the following events or to request an interview.
Tour of Eden Valley Poultry
Minister Hutchings will tour this local business, owned by the producers who supply it with chickens and turkeys from their family farms, and discuss the importance of agriculture as a driver of rural economic development.
Date: Thursday, November 4, 2021
Time: 1:30 p.m. (AT)
Roundtable with the Annapolis Valley Chamber of Commerce
Minister Hutchings will join local business owners for a roundtable discussion on how the federal government can help rural businesses grow and thrive.
Date: Thursday, November 4, 2021
Time: 3:30 p.m. (AT)
Meeting with Karen Foster
Minister Hutchings will join Dr. Foster, Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair in Sustainable Rural Futures for Atlantic Canada at Dalhousie University, to discuss the importance of research and data in supporting economic development in rural communities.
Date: Friday, November 5, 2021
Time: 12:30 p.m. (AT)
Appearance at the Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador Annual Conference
Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador President Amy Coady-Davis and Federation of Canadian Municipalities President Joanne Vanderheyden will join Minister Hutchings for a discussion on federal support for rural communities in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Date: Saturday, November 6, 2021
Time: 2:00 p.m. (NT)
Alex Howell
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Rural Economic Development
613-862-7245
Alex.Howell@cfc-swc.gc.ca
Media Relations
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
343-291-1777
media@ised-isde.gc.ca
