OTTAWA, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 10/07/13 -- The Honourable Joe Oliver, Canada's Minister of Natural Resources, today welcomed Mr. Isoo Sasaki, Mayor of Natori City in Japan, during his visit to Canada. Mayor Sasaki was in Ottawa to express his city's gratitude to the Government of Canada for its contribution to the Canada-Tohoku Reconstruction Project.
"Canada is proud to have contributed to the reconstruction of Natori City following the devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami," said the Honourable Joe Oliver, Canada's Minister of Natural Resources. "The reconstruction efforts serve as an enduring symbol of friendship between Canada and Japan."
The Canada-Tohoku Reconstruction Project has supported the reconstruction of the Dunguri Ann Public Library and the Yuriage Public Market. The buildings were reconstructed with wood framing using Canadian wood products. These projects were funded through the Canada-Tohoku Reconstruction Fund, a $4.8 million joint initiative between the governments of Canada, British Columbia and Alberta and the Canadian forest industry. Natural Resources Canada's contribution to this initiative amounted to $2.2 million.
The Canada-Tohoku Reconstruction Project, in addition to demonstrating Canada's goodwill as part of a larger humanitarian effort, also demonstrates Canada's commitment to Japan as an important trading partner that has provided decades of benefits for Canadian companies, forest communities and workers.
For more information about federal support for Canada's forest sector, please visit: www.canadaforests.nrcan.gc.ca.
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