January 14, 2011

Iqaluit (Nunavut) – Territorial residents will benefit from a variety of programs and opportunities to improve their job skills and expand local businesses. This will lead to sustainable economic development and long term prosperity for Canada's three territories.

The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister Responsible for the North on behalf of the Honourable John Duncan, Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor), announced today an investment of over $900,000 towards eight skills and capacity development projects in Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

“Investment in these projects demonstrates our Government's ongoing commitment to provide Northerners with the tools they need to benefit from economic opportunities in their communities,” said Minister Aglukkaq who is also Member of Parliament for Nunavut and Minister of Health. “These projects will help Northerners by developing training tailored to the local job markets and by building business capacity.”

”Our Government is proud to invest in job skills training and business capacity development,” said the Minister Duncan who is also Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians. “These initiatives will ensure that Northerners are better equipped to participate in the Northern economy.”

CanNor's investment includes $300,000 for Dechinta Bush University in the Northwest Territories to strengthen their business administration program and to improve their linkages to the community. The Nunavut Community Economic Development Organization (NCEDO) will receive an investment of $169,655 for training and capacity development, and for marketing and communications. The Nunavut Economic Developers Association (NEDA) will receive $125,000 for Phase 1 of a comprehensive training program; and an investment of $93,834 will go to the Baffin Regional Chamber of Commerce to assist in marketing Nunavut as a conference destination.

The Inuvialuit Community Economic Development Organization will receive $75,000 to purchase new equipment to improve business capacity in a traditional economy. The Uqqurmiut Inuit Artist Association will receive an investment of $75,000 for a series of tapestry workshops; and the Hamlet of Pangnirtung will receive $70,375 for a feasibility study to establish an Entrepreneurial Centre for Youth. The Council of Yukon First Nations will receive $20,473 to train forestry field assistants.

Funding for these projects came from two programs. Strategic Investments in Northern Economic Development (SINED) is a suite of programs that focuses on long-term economic growth, economic diversification and capacity building in all three territories.  Aboriginal Economic Development (AED) refers to a suite of national programs that are administered by CanNor in the territories to encourage the participation of First Nations and Inuit governments and organizations in the territorial economy.

Backgrounder - Investing in Skills and Capacity Development in the North

Please visit these web sites to learn more about Canada's Economic Action Plan and Canada's Northern Strategy .

For further information, please contact:
Office of the Honourable John Duncan
Michele-Jamali Paquette
Press Secretary
(819) 997-0002
Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency
Craig Welsh
Communications Advisor, Nunavut Region
867-975-3735
Erin Macpherson
Communications Advisor, Yukon Region
867-667-3849
Petra White
Communications Advisor, Northwest Territories Region
867-766-8435