Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management Minister Buckley Belanger, on behalf of Saskatchewan Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Ron Osika, and Churchill River Member of Parliament Rick Laliberte, on behalf of the Honourable Ron J. Duhamel, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Secretary of State (Western Economic Diversification) (Francophonie), were in La Loche today to announce a new housing and training initiative in northern Saskatchewan.

Under the $3.9 million housing component, 40 houses will be built. Saskatchewan Municipal Affairs and Housing, Saskatchewan Health and Saskatchewan Northern Affairs are providing provincial funding of $3.63 million. The Village of La Loche is contributing $270,000 in land and equity to the project. Two million dollars of the provincial funding was drawn from the Centenary Fund. The Fund was established to help accelerate social housing and a variety of other important capital projects leading up to the province's centenary in 2005.

"The province is pleased to participate in such a worthwhile initiative in northern Saskatchewan," Belanger said. "This important project will create more adequate, affordable housing in La Loche and help attract much-needed health-care professionals to the North."

Under the $855,000 training initiative, Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) is contributing $684,000 to help La Loche-based Methy Construction Corporation hire personnel to train its existing and potential employees in carpentry and heavy equipment operation. These workers will then have the skills to secure sustainable jobs anywhere in the North. Methy Construction will pay the remaining costs.

"Today's announcement highlights how the Government of Canada is helping northern residents build better futures and sustainable communities," Laliberte said. "WD is committed to helping build a skilled workforce, to helping young people, especially Aboriginal youth, develop their skills so they can participate fully in the economy."

The new housing will consist of 28 social housing units for low-income families and 12 units to accommodate health care professionals to be hired by the Keewatin Yatthé Health District. The units will be built by Methy Construction and managed by the La Loche Non Profit Housing Corporation. Both corporations are owned by the Village of La Loche.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Joanne Mysak
Manager, Consultations, Marketing and Communications
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
(306) 975-5942

Maureen Boyle
Municipal Affairs and Housing
Regina
Phone: (306) 787-5959