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Federal-provincial agreement for Northern Saskatchewan concludes
A final $1.68 million investment towards four projects brings an end to the $20 million Canada-Saskatchewan Northern Development Agreement (NDA). These last projects will build additional student residences in La Ronge, train northerners in careers such as economic development and local government administration and renew a successful employment-bridging initiative.
The Honourable Senator David Tkachuk, Senate of Canada, on behalf of the Honourable Rona Ambrose, President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of Western Economic Diversification (WD) and Nadine Wilson, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Saskatchewan Rivers on behalf of the Honourable June Draude, Minister of Saskatchewan First Nations and Métis Relations, wrapped up the NDA today.
“The delivery of numerous skills-training projects enabled northerners to successfully develop new skills and obtain regional employment,
” said Senator Tkachuk. “Moving forward, Western Economic Diversification will look to other initiatives fostering broader economic development opportunities for northern Saskatchewan communities.
”
“This is a new Saskatchewan and we will build on the momentum created by our thriving economy and young population,
” said MLA Wilson on behalf of Minister Draude. “These projects, like all the others of the NDA, will help to increase business opportunities and jobs for northern people, and help lay the foundation for our growing economic strength.
”
The objectives of the NDA were to promote and support sustainable economic development initiatives to encourage the full participation of northerners in Saskatchewan’s economy. Each partner committed to invest $10 million over a six-year period to projects that would improve economic infrastructure, realize greater employment opportunities, improve capacity building and attract private investment.
Over the life of the agreement, the Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan invested in more than 50 initiatives. Many of the projects (see attached list) focused on skills training, capacity building/job readiness for northerners and to a lesser degree on building economic infrastructure and attracting private investment. The program has often leveraged funding from other partners as well; for the projects announced today, other funding sources are providing $2.12 million.
One of the many positive outcomes of the NDA was the active participation of northern residents in the review of project proposals and their involvement in the decision-making process. The contributions of the Northern Development Board Corporation members were very important to the delivery and effectiveness of the Northern Development Agreement.
“The Northern Development Board Corporation (NDBC) is proud to celebrate the accomplishments of the Northern Development Agreement but regrets its conclusion,
” said Gordon Stomp chair of the NDBC. “Over the years, we were proud to give northerners a voice at the management table to identify projects to best meet our priorities and objectives for infrastructure services, skills training and community economic sustainability.
"
The Department of Western Economic Diversification and Ministry of First Nations and Métis Relations have developed a positive working relationship with their partners in northern Saskatchewan. Moving forward, they will continue to seek opportunities to work with stakeholders, business organizations and community leaders to promote and support economic development initiatives in the region.
For additional information, contact:
Pierre Floréa
Director of Communications
Office of the President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of Western Economic Diversification
Tel: (613) 943-1838
Alethea Foster
Director of Communications
Saskatchewan First Nations & Métis Relations
Regina, Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 787-5701
Cell: (306) 533-2168
WD Toll-Free Number:1-888-338-WEST (9378)
Teletypewriter (TTY): 1-877-303-3388
WD Website: www.wd-deo.gc.ca.
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Backgrounder
Canada-Saskatchewan Northern Development Agreement
The Canada-Saskatchewan Northern Development Agreement (NDA) has provided $20 million over six years for a variety of northern economic development initiatives to address five priorities in the North:
- Economic Infrastructure: projects that support major new economic initiatives;
- Innovation: projects that could lead to new discoveries, products or services;
- Realizing Employment Opportunities: initiatives that help Northerners (particularly youth) take advantage of employment opportunities;
- Capacity Building: support to enhance the capacity of Northerners and their organizations to be self-sufficient; and
- Investment Attraction: efforts to identify, research and promote specific investment opportunities in northern Saskatchewan, particularly value-added industries.
The NDA was unique in Canada, as it included northern representatives working with federal and provincial funding partners on a tripartite management committee, to make decisions on those projects to be supported by the Agreement Northern organizations which appointed directors to the Northern Development Board Corporation, included: the Saskatchewan Association of Northern Communities, representing northern municipal governments; the Métis Nation – Saskatchewan; the Prince Albert Grand Council and Meadow Lake Tribal Council, representing northern First Nations; and the Athabasca Economic Development and Training Corporation, representing residents of the Athabasca region.
Projects:
- Northlands College will deliver a two-year course to train 20 people in local government administration, resulting in a Local Government Authority Certificate. This program will allow clerks in northern municipalities to upgrade their skills through correspondence and classroom instruction. The content will cover council processes and meetings, preparing budgets and other financial records, governing legislation and regulations, and office management, all tailored for northern content. Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) through the NDA, and the Northern Revenue Sharing Trust Account, are each contributing half of the $440,000 cost, which covers tuition, books, travel expenses, and the cost of replacing the clerks temporarily while on course.
- The Northern Teacher Education Program (NORTEP) will build an 8-unit residence in La Ronge to rent to its students, who come from across the North. Several NORTEP students already have families, but rental accommodation for large families is rare in La Ronge, so NORTEP will build seven large family apartments and one wheelchair-accessible apartment. To be built alongside existing (albeit smaller) NORTEP apartments, these energy-efficient units will have 4-5 bedrooms each. The Province will provide $528,000 in NDA funding, the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation will provide $768,000, and NORTEP will mortgage the remaining $204,000 of this $1.5M project.
- Job Horizons II will renew the successful bridging-to-employment initiative which recruits clients from northern Saskatchewan communities and either places them in available jobs in Saskatchewan and Alberta oilfields or – if they need training – links them to the Alberta Aboriginal Apprenticeship Program. Trained workers will be in greater demand as resource development grows in Saskatchewan. The Aboriginal Human Resource Council (AHRC), a national non-profit organization, will manage the $1.347M project over two-year, with a target of 300 job placements. WD will provide $600,000 and the Province $100,000 in NDA funding, along with Human Resources and Social Development Canada ($466,000), private sector employers ($175,000), and the AHRC ($6,000).
- Prince Albert Grand Council will deliver economic development officer training to economic development corporations owned by northern municipalities, Métis and First Nations communities. The training will be provided by the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies. Successful candidates will graduate with SIIT “Certificate of Management Studies” diplomas and certification as accredited CANDO economic development officers. Up to 25 participants will study financial management, First Nation administration, and “best practices” in economic development in eight 10-day courses over two years. WD through the NDA will provide $235,400, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada will provide $161,100, and participating First Nations organizations will contribute $124,000, for a total cost of $520,500.
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