NORTHERN DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT EXTENDED

The Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan have agreed to extend the five-year Canada-Saskatchewan Northern Development Agreement (NDA) by one year to March 31, 2008.

The NDA is a joint federal-provincial initiative through which governments committed $20 million to strategic projects to support economic development in northern Saskatchewan.

The extension will give the NDA’s management committee another year to consider additional strategic projects involving economic infrastructure, innovation, realizing employment opportunities, capacity building and attracting investment.
 
“Canada’s New Government is working with other orders of government to get things done for the people of northern Saskatchewan,” said the Honourable Rona Ambrose, President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of Western Economic Diversification.  “This extension will enable the people of northern Saskatchewan to improve their regional economic infrastructure, employment prospects and business expertise as well as to increase industry innovation and attract business investment.”
 
“The extension will allow us to consider the most effective way to invest the remaining NDA funds to foster business and employment development in the North,” Saskatchewan Northern Affairs Minister Joan Beatty said.  “Our government is committed to working with our federal and northern partners to capitalize on our strong economy and northern Saskatchewan’s great potential.”

The NDA is unique in Canada, allowing northern representatives to sit on a tripartite management committee with the federal and provincial funding partners.  Northern organizations appoint directors to the Northern Development Board Corporation, which represents: the Saskatchewan Association of Northern Communities, representing northern municipal governments; the Métis Nation – Saskatchewan; the Prince Albert Grand Council and Meadow Lake Tribal Council, representing northern First Nations; and the Athabasca Economic Development and Training Corporation, representing residents of the Athabasca region.

“The participation of the Northern Development Board Corporation demonstrates to both levels of government that northern leaders are determined to make positive change and improve economic conditions for fellow northerners” Northern Development Board Corporation chair Al Rivard said.  “The extension provides more time to fully invest the Northern Development Agreement into much-needed projects in the North.”

The extension does not require an increase in funding, as not all of the NDA money had been committed to projects.  Furthermore, some proposals had already been submitted to the NDA before the program expired but have not yet been finalized and announced.

Approximately $13.8 million has been announced to date to support 43 projects.  In addition to a broad range of training and employment programs, the Agreement has invested in high-speed Internet service to more than 35 northern communities.

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For more information, contact:

Brenda Tarasiuk
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Saskatoon
Phone: 306-975-5943
Email: www.wd.gc.ca
Cell: 1-888-338-9378

Scott Boyes
Saskatchewan Northern Affairs
La Ronge
Phone: 306-425-6669
Email: sboyes@sna.gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-425-8869

Dean Desjarlais
Northern Development Board
La Ronge
Phone: 306-425-2444