Whitehorse, Yukon (May 14, 2009) - Northern Canada to receive $32.8 million in support through new Community Adjustment Fund

Canadian workers, families and businesses in and around Northern communities that are hardest hit by the global recession will be able to pursue new economic opportunities in their communities thanks to Community Adjustment Fund, a major job creating investment contained in the Harper Government's Economic Action Plan.

"This fund will provide opportunities to develop small resource-enhancement projects in the North, and create jobs today and in the future," said Minister Strahl. "The new Community Adjustment Fund will support the efforts of Northerners to explore and develop new opportunities to broaden and diversify their economies."

"The global recession has severely affected many individuals and families, especially in communities that depend on single industries such as forestry," said Minister of Natural Resources Lisa Raitt. "The Community Adjustment Fund will inject new money, as quickly as possible into communities across Canada in order to create jobs and support economic renewal in the communities that are hardest hit."

The Community Adjustment Fund will deliver a total of $1 billion over the two years to local economies throughout Canada. These communities will include First Nations, Metis and Inuit communities.  While in Whitehorse, Minister Strahl announced that Northern Canada"s share of this funding will be worth $32.8 million.

Projects to be funded could include reforestation activities, investments in machinery or equipment, demonstration of new mining technologies, and initiatives to improve market access for products.

Individuals interested in learning more about how to apply for funding under the Community Adjustment Fund are encouraged to contact their local Regional Development Authority.  For more information, please consult the document on the CAF application process.

This announcement reinforces the Government of Canada's work to advance an integrated Northern Strategy to assert Canada's Arctic sovereignty, protect the North's environmental heritage, promote social and economic development and improve and devolve northern governance.

Inuktitut (77 Kb, 2 Pages)

Backgrounder - Community Adjustment Fund

Backgrounder - Community Adjustment Fund - Inuktitut (63 Kb, 3Pages)