Harper Government Invests in NWT Business Capacity and Readiness

Six initiatives help to diversify northern economy

YELLOWKNIFE, June 19, 2015 /CNW/ - Mr. Blaine Calkins, Member of Parliament for Wetaskiwin, on behalf of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of the Environment, Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency and Minister for the Arctic Council and Minister Rickford, Minister of Natural Resources and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario, today announced six initiatives to expand business capacity, create jobs and enable communities to seize economic opportunities.

CanNor investment in communities and organizations expands economic opportunities and leads to job creation, stronger communities and long-term prosperity for Northerners.

The projects cover a range of activities including the expansion of local information technology infrastructure, the development of a viable forestry-derived biomass renewable energy sector, the revitalization of downtown Yellowknife, the expansion of the Gaia Integrative Centre, and the attraction of investment and expansion of local entrepreneurship.

Quick Facts

• The Government of Canada is partnering with a number of organizations on these projects including: the Government of the Northwest Territories, the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, the Sambaa K'E Dene Band, the City of Yellowknife, the Conseil de développement économique des territoires du nord-ouest, and the Gaia Integrative Centre.
• The Government of Canada is investing $4,654,000. The proponents and the Government of the Northwest Territories are investing $3,891,750, bringing the total value of the projects to $8,545,750.

Quotes

"Our Government is proud to work alongside its partners to help create jobs, growth and long-term prosperity for Northerners. Investing in community and business development helps to build strong, prosperous communities, creates jobs and stimulates the local economy."

Blaine Calkins 
Member of Parliament for Wetaskiwin

"These varied investments made by the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency will help to spur economic development in innovate ways across the entire territory. The Government of the Northwest Territories appreciates these significant investments and we want to thank the federal government for their continued support.'

Bob McLeod
Premier of the Northwest Territories

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 about Natural Resource Canada's Canadian Forest Service, visit nrcan.gc.ca/forests

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: Shane Kilpatrick, Communications Advisor, NWT, 613-240-7682; Office of the Minister of Natural Resources: Alexandra Lemieux, 613-996-2007; Natural Resources Canada Media Relations: 613-992-4447; Proponent/partner contact person: CDETNO: Antoine Gagnon, Executive Director, 867-873-5962 Ext: 7; City of Yellowknife: Jeffery Humble, Director Planning and Development, 867.920.5633; NWT Forest and Biomass Initiative: Lisa Dyer, Director Environment, 867-920-3327; Gaia Integrative Centre: DR. Nicole Redvers, 867-873-3669; Sambaa K'e Dene Band: Chief Dolphus Jumbo and Ruby Jumbo, Senior Administrative Officer, 867-206-2828; Yellowknives Dene First Nation: Stephan Folkers, Manager of Municipal Works and Housing, 867-920-4403