Government of Canada partners with Aboriginal organizations to promote regional economic development

Supporting northern businesses and creating jobs

IQALUIT, Aug. 1, 2015 /CNW/ - Today, the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of the Environment, Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency and Minister for the Arctic Council announced three-year partnership arrangements with two Aboriginal organizations to deliver CanNor's Entrepreneurship and Business Development fund to individual and community-owned Aboriginal businesses in Nunavut and Yukon.  

The service delivery arrangements are with the Kivalliq Partners in Development in the Kivalliq region of Nunavut and with däna Näye Ventures in Yukon. With their knowledge and experience of the local economy, these three Aboriginal organizations will work with individual and community-owned businesses to identify opportunities to grow and expand small and medium enterprises in their regions.

These two agreements build upon another service delivery arrangement CanNor established earlier this year with the Kakivak Association in the Qikiqtani region of Nunavut.  Supporting small and medium enterprises is key to economic diversification and job creation in Canada's North.

Quick Facts

• Kivalliq Partners in Development is entering into service delivery arrangement with CanNor where they will promote the Entrepreneurship and Business Development fund, receive and screen applications and make funding recommendations for the consideration by the Minister of CanNor.
• In addition to promoting the Entrepreneurship and Business Development fund and receiving and screening applications, däna Näye Ventures will also be authorized make funding recommendations of up to $99,999 for individual applicants and up to $250,000 for community-owned businesses through an arms-length Project Review Committee.
• CanNor works with a variety of partner organizations to deliver programs that support Aboriginal businesses across the North. The use of these program service delivery arrangements are just some of the flexible ways CanNor is supporting small and medium Aboriginal enterprises in the North.

Quotes

"Our Government is delivering on its commitment to support economic development in the North and to work directly with northerners to ensure they benefit from business growth and expansion. These service delivery arrangements will empower Aboriginal business owners to become more engaged in the economic development of their communities."

Leona Aglukkaq
Minister of the Environment, Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, and Minister for the Arctic Council

Associated Links  

Government of Canada partners with the Kakivak Association to foster economic development

The Government of Canada has selected this project for funding consideration of up to $3,049,998 under the Northern Aboriginal Economic Opportunities Program. This funding is conditional upon the signing of a contribution agreement.

CanNor works to help develop a diversified, sustainable and dynamic economy across Canada's three territories, and delivers on its northern mandate through funding programs, the Northern Projects Management Office and by undertaking policy and research.

For more information about CanNor, visit cannor.gc.ca

For more information on Canada's Northern Strategy, visit: northernstrategy.ca

SOURCE Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor)

Office of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq: Ted Laking, 819-997-1441; Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency: Krisandra Reid, Communications Advisor, Yukon Region, 867-667-3210