GOVERNMENT OF CANADA RELEASES REPORT ON REGULATORY SYSTEMS IN THE NORTH

2-3070

Yellowknife, NWT (July 17, 2008)- The Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians, today released the report of Neil McCrank, Special Representative for the Northern Regulatory Improvement Initiative.

The report, entitled The Road to Improvement, is the product of more than 100 bilateral meetings with Northerners, as well as numerous written submissions, collected over six months. Although Mr. McCrank focused on the Northwest Territories, his report also includes specific recommendations for Nunavut and Yukon.

“Our government is already taking action to improve regulatory systems in the North,” said Minister Strahl. “We support a system that helps foster economic development while protecting the North’s unique environment and have already been working to do that for some time.”

The report will be reviewed before a decision is taken on which recommendations will be accepted.

Today’s announcement is another important step in the Government of Canada’s plan to implement a successful Northern Strategy which aims to strengthen Arctic sovereignty, protect the North’s environmental heritage, promote social and economic development, and improve and devolve Northern governance.

The report, The Road to Improvement     is available online.

For further information please contact: