BUDGET SUPPORTS NORTHERN MOMENTUM

Northern Affairs Minister Buckley Belanger says the 2005-2006 provincial budget will help northern Saskatchewan maintain its momentum for social and economic growth.

"In recent years, the North has seen increased employment, reduced reliance on social assistance, new training opportunities and improved municipal and provincial infrastructure," Belanger said. "Increased mineral exploration activity, growth in uranium mining, new forestry developments, tourism and construction are all contributing to expansion of the northern economy. The budget will maintain this momentum on several fronts."

Belanger noted that many of the province-wide initiatives included in the budget will directly benefit northern Saskatchewan. He also outlined a number of particular northern initiatives.

"Improving health services and renewing northern health facilities has been a particular priority of the government during the past decade," Belanger said. "Our commitment to strengthen northern health care is continued in this budget."

The government's capital budget includes funding for construction of a new integrated health centre at Ile a la Crosse, which will begin this summer. New regional health centres have also been completed in La Ronge, Stony Rapids-Black Lake, and La Loche.

The three northern health authorities will receive an eight per cent increase of $2.5 million for an annual operating budget of $34.3 million.

In total, more than $20 million has been allocated for 2005-06 northern capital projects including northern roads, new school construction and a $1.5 million Saskatchewan Watershed Authority project to improve water level controls at Lac La Ronge.

Additional capital funding may be provided for projects approved under the five-year, $20 million Canada-Saskatchewan Northern Development Agreement. Saskatchewan Northern Affairs' budget for such initiatives has been increased by $250,000 to $550,000 in 2005-06 to address projects that are not funded through other provincial government departments.

Improvements to the Environment department's aircraft hangar in La Ronge will support the province's acquisition of two Convair CV580A aerial fire tankers. The new aircraft are part of a program to modernize the province's forest fire fighting fleet, which began last year with the acquisition of two guide planes that lead air tankers to fire sites.

"Renewal of our fire fighting aircraft together with budget provisions for continued training and use of First Nation fire crews and continued reforestation are important to protect our forest resources and support the expansion of our northern forestry industry," Belanger said.

The provincial budget also provides funding to support a proposed economic development and land use planning project in the La Loche area. The work will be undertaken in co-operation with the Clearwater River Dene Nation, the community of La Loche and other communities in the area.

The budget for the Northern Affairs department has been increased to strengthen northern program evaluation and development in support of the government's Northern Strategy objectives. The increase will also ensure development and implementation of plans for cleaning up abandoned uranium mine sites in northern Saskatchewan. The provincial government had previously committed $12 million for the clean-up, with implementation to be undertaken over several years. It is hoped that the federal government will match that amount for the clean-up program. The sites involved had been developed in the 1940s and 1950s under federal government authority.

Minister Belanger said further details of budget provisions for the North would be made available in future weeks including new northern justice initiatives, increased support for the KidsFirst program that targets vulnerable children and their families, and increased funding for northern education and training programs.

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For More Information, Contact:

Brian Cousins Northern Affairs Regina Phone: (306) 787-5061