Iqaluit (Nunavut) – The Nunavut Resource Corporation will receive support from the Government of Canada to develop Phase II of their strategic plan which will identify resource development projects that will directly benefit Inuit in Nunavut.

The Honourable John Duncan, Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor), today announced that the federal government will invest $979,000 in this project, worth a total of more than $1.2 million. The remaining funding will be contributed by the Kitikmeot Inuit Association (KIA).
“This Government is committed to ensuring that Northern economic development occurs in a way that directly involves those who live and work in the North,” said Minister Duncan, who is also Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians.  “This project will enable Inuit in Nunavut to participate in resource development projects in their Territory, providing greater opportunities for Inuit businesses both at a community and territorial level.” 

“This funding recognizes the importance of the resource sector for the Nunavut economy, and we are proud to offer Inuit more opportunities to gain financial and employment benefits from resource development projects,” said Minister Leona Aglukkaq, Minister Responsible for the North and the Minister of Health.



The Nunavut Resource Corporation was established by the KIA in 2009 with a mandate to ensure that Inuit benefit directly from major non-renewable resources projects in Nunavut. The Board of Directors and Advisory Committee are made of representatives of participating Regional Inuit Associations and Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. The NRC’s approach provides Inuit more opportunities to influence corporate decisions and to gain more financial and employment benefits from resource development projects. Phase II of the Corporation’s work will be to establish list of potential co-development partners and to negotiate Inuit participation in investments.

INAC’s funding comes from the Major Resource and Energy Development (MRED) fund which is designed to help Aboriginal businesses partner in some of the most important economic developments and energy projects in the country. This initiative is supported by the Federal Framework for Aboriginal Economic Development, the Government's policy framework outlining its vision, priorities, and strategy for increasing the participation of Aboriginal peoples in the Canadian economy.
The CanNor investment in this initiative was made possible through the Community Economic Opportunities Program, an initiative that the Agency delivers under a suite of Aboriginal Economic Development (AED) programs. CanNor is responsible for coordinating and delivering Canada’s economic development activities across the North, and for related policy development, research and advocacy.