Government of Canada invests in the Beaufort and Sahtu regions

CanNor awards over $2,100,000 in support of economic development in the Northwest Territories

INUVIK, NT, April 5, 2018 /CNW/ - To support economic diversification and foster sustainable growth, communities benefit from setting conditions that enable businesses and organisations to respond to the unique challenges of the North, to create jobs for residents and to thrive.

This is why, building on over $1,000,000 in investments from partnering communities, organisations and the Government of the Northwest Territories, the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor) is contributing over $2,100,000 to eleven projects in the Beaufort and Sahtu regions.  This funding will support a variety of projects designed to improve community infrastructure and provide for foundational commercial planning in the communities of Deline, Inuvik, Fort Good Hope, Fort McPherson, Norman Wells, Tulita and Ulukhaktok.

The announcement was made today by Michael McLeod, Member of Parliament (Northwest Territories) on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for CanNor, at Inuvik's largest childcare centre, the Children First Society.

These investments will allow communities across the Beaufort and Sahtu regions to seize the opportunities the North has to offer, supporting sustainable growth and job creation for years to come.  

Quotes

"The Government of Canada is pleased to support the vitality and growth of communities in the Beaufort and Sahtu regions. These investments will contribute to build capacity in the Northwest Territories, and help communities set the stage for sustainable economic development."

Michael McLeod
Member of Parliament, Northwest Territories

"The Government of the Northwest Territories shares Canada's vision for a strong, diverse economy benefitting the residents we serve. We are pleased to partner in investments and initiatives that are building capacity and self-sufficiency in our communities and which support the economic growth and diversity of our territory's economy overall."

Honorable Wally Schumann
Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Government of the Northwest Territories

Quick Facts

• Thanks to a contribution of $230,000 from CanNor along with a $50,000 investment from the Government of Northwest Territories and a $20,000 investment from Bullfrog Power, the Children First Society (CFS) is setting the example for clean energy adoption by installing a new biomass boiler and photovoltaic system in their facility, the Children First Centre (CFC). This will allow the Society to save in annual heating and electricity costs and improve its environmental footprint.

"CFS is excited to reduce our carbon footprint and expenditures while also supporting local business and keeping the CFC comfortable for the children."

Patricia Davison
Executive Director of the Children First Society

"Transitioning from fossil fuels is essential for the future of our planet?and the Children's First Centre provides an inspiring example of how northern communities can lead the way to making that future renewably-powered. We're proud to have helped fund the Children's First Society solar project through the support of the businesses and individuals across Canada that choose green energy."

Ron Seftel
Chief Executive Officer, Bullfrog Power

• Building on its own investment of $40,800, the Tulita Dene Band Council received a $163,200 contribution from CanNor to upgrade their information management and technology system to improve the Band's delivery of services.  The funding supported the design and installation of the equipment, as well as the training required to operate and maintain the new infrastructure.
• With contributions of $202,000 from CanNor and adding to its own investment of $50,580, the Norman Wells Land Corporation undertook the development of a Block Land Transfer Area Development Plan.  The Plan, which was requested by the Government of the Northwest Territories and has since been approved, provides a comprehensive description of future developments that can be pursued on the lands in the Block Land Transfer Lease Agreement held by the Norman Well Land Corporation.
• Leveraging its own investment of $33,550 and thanks to contributions of $533,000 from CanNor, $25,000 from the Government of the Northwest Territories and $74,700 from the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, the Ulukhaktok Community Corporation is undertaking the expansion of their community-owned Kayutak Centre to allow it to provide services to cruise ship tourists.
• Thanks to a $56,000 contribution from CanNor as well as $14,000 in support from each of the Government of the Northwest Territories, Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada and Natural Resources Canada, Rat River Development Corporation is able to advance a forest management plan and explore opportunities to develop a biomass industry in Fort McPherson.
• CanNor contributed to three projects led by Techi?q Ltd., the business arm of the Deline Gotine Government:
• Building on a $478,000 investment from the Techi?q Ltd. and other commercial financing, CanNor provided a contribution of $500,000 to expand the community-owned Grey Goose Lodge. This funding supported the addition of eight new cabins, which allows the community of Deline to meet the increasing demand for commercial lodgings.
• Along with an investment of $52,000 from Techi?q Ltd., CanNor's contribution of $208,000 allowed for an upgrade to the information technology and communications infrastructure, with the funding supporting the purchase, delivery and installation of the equipment, as well as the training required to operate and maintain the new network.
• Building on Techi?q Ltd.'s investment of $24,120, a contribution of about $42,000 from CanNor went towards the rehabilitation of the Deline Cultural Centre, an important facility to the community as it is used for civic, cultural and social gatherings.
• The Aurora Research Institute (Aurora College) received a contribution of $26,722 from CanNor to improve the Western Arctic Research Center Community and Educational Garden. Thanks to this investment, and building on an additional support of $3,246 from Aurora College and  $6,500 from the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation, the Inuvik garden now serves as a welcoming community gathering space, an educational space for both students and residents, and as a tourist attraction.
• Building on a $28,910 investment from the Nihtat Corporation, CanNor is contributing $114,000 toward the completion of a feasibility study regarding the potential for expanding commercial fishery activities in the Mackenzie River Delta region.  The research is intended to provide the Nihtat Gwich'in with baseline data, which will be used for future planning purposes and decision-making regarding potential fishery expansion opportunities in the Gwich'in communities. 

"Fishing has been integral to our way of life since time immemorial.  With the funding from CanNor, we will be able to study the opportunity of expanding our fisheries to create sustainable economic development opportunities for our members and our Nation. The Nihtat Gwich'in would like to say thank you to CanNor and the Government of Canada for supporting this important work."

Jozef Carnogursky,
President, Nihtat Corporation

• Leveraging a combined $51,700 investment from both the K'asho Got'ine Community Council and Development Corporation,  the community piloted an innovative project to grow root vegetables in Fort Good Hope thanks to a $105,900 investment from CanNor, a $50,100 investment from Agriculture and Agri-food Canada and a $20,000 contribution from the Government of the Northwest Territories. The funds supported community labour, materials, as well as necessary the training to build and maintain above ground modular planters and irrigation systems.

"Residents of the Northwest Territories have long responded to the challenge of producing fresh and healthy food in the North's unique environment.  The Government of the Northwest Territories is happy to partner with the Government of Canada to help advance the local knowledge and methods for growing and producing food in the Sahtu region; and to set the stage for actions and investments that will increase the production of fresh, healthy and more-affordable locally grown food choices."

Honorable Wally Schumann
Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Government of the Northwest Territories

"This project helped to put in place the necessary infrastructure we needed to support agriculture development in our community. Once we knew we had the soil and how to enrich it, we were very happy to realize that this could be a sustainable food source and provide employment in the community."

Wilfred McNeely Jr.
Chief of the K'asho Got'ine Community Council

Associated links

• Tuktoyaktuk Ready for Tourism Boost Driven by Highway Expansion 
• Government of Canada Supports Wind Energy Study in Canada's Arctic 
• Agricultural Innovation to Help Feed the North

Follow ISED on Twitter: @ISED_CA

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

SOURCE Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor)