MORE THAN $2.7 MILLION FOR NORTHERN DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

Northerners will soon benefit from the first projects approved under the Canada-Saskatchewan Northern Development Agreement (NDA).

The governments of Canada and Saskatchewan are collaborating to provide just over $2.7 million for eight projects that will improve transportation, create training opportunities and support local economic development. These projects were selected by the NDA tripartite committee.

"These projects address needs that are unique to northern communities and the northern economy as a whole," Finance Minister Ralph Goodale said on behalf of the Honourable Dr. Rey D. Pagtakhan, Minister of Western Economic Diversification. "Our communities are key to our social goals and our economic competitiveness. The investments announced today reflect the Government of Canada's commitment to ensuring communities and regions have the opportunity to fully participate in helping build the country. Congratulations to the NDA project proponents."

"We are building a process that enables this agreement to be a success with benefits going directly to northerners. We want this agreement to give northerners the means to better address their goals and aspirations and we want other agreements to flow from what we do here," Minister of Saskatchewan Northern Affairs Buckley Belanger said.

"The Northern Development Board Corporation is pleased to finally realize projects under the Northern Development Agreement," stated Al Rivard, chairperson, Northern Development Board. "The process was complex and precedent-setting in that northerners now have a say at the decision table as to which projects will be funded. Future reviews will be more streamlined and will mean less waiting time for proponents."

The NDA tripartite committee consists of representatives from the federal and provincial governments (Western Economic Diversification Canada and Saskatchewan Northern Affairs) and the Northern Development Board Corporation (NDB). The NDB includes representatives from the Prince Albert Grand Council, Meadow Lake Tribal Council, Métis Nation - Saskatchewan, and the Saskatchewan Association of Northern Communities (New North), together with the Athabasca Economic Development and Training Corporation.

The five-year, $20-million agreement—funded with $10 million each from the governments of Canada and Saskatchewan—provides opportunities for northerners in five strategic priority areas including economic infrastructure, innovation, realizing employment opportunities, capacity building and investment attraction.

The eight projects announced today are:

Transportation Total Project Costs

· Highway 905 (upgrade to hills on Athabasca seasonal road) $1,995,000

Training
· Construction apprenticeship-training program $258,666
· Hospitality industry certification $72,252
· Aboriginal Employment Development (AED) training $215,759
· Recognition of Prior Learning program $168,027
· Water-wastewater plant operator training $163,274
· Entrepreneurial training for high school students $46,500

Economic Development
· Business Advisory Support and Services Centre $264,740

· Total project value: $3,184,218

· Total federal-provincial contribution: $2,713,692

Federal funding for this project was provided for in the February 2003 federal budget.

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For More Information, Contact:

John Charlton Northern Affairs Regina Phone: (306)787-5061	Dean Desjarlais Northern Development Board La Ronge Phone: (306)425-2444
Joanne Mysak Western Economic Diversification Saskatoon Phone: (306)975-9542	Louise Hayes Office of the Minister of Western Economic Diversification Ottawa Phone: (613)952-0675