MINISTER OF STATE (NORTHERN DEVELOPMENT) ANNOUNCES THE FOCUS FOR INVESTMENTS IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN NUNAVUT

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Ottawa, Ontario (November 21, 2005) - The Honourable Ethel Blondin-Andrew, Minister of State (Northern Development), today announced the focus for investments under the Targeted Investment Program (TIP) in Nunavut. TIP is part of the Strategic Investments in Northern Economic Development (SINED) program set offered by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) to deliver the $90 million for Northern Economic Development announced in the 2004 Federal Budget.

Through TIP, the federal government and the three territories work together to tailor economic development investments to the specific needs of each territory. In Nunavut, INAC worked with the Government of Nunavut and the Nunavut Economic Forum to identify investments under the program’s four thematic areas: building the knowledge base; enhancing economic infrastructure; capacity development; and economic diversification. Some of the sectors expected to benefit from TIP investments in Nunavut include commercial harvesting with a particular emphasis on fisheries, tourism and parks, arts and crafts, film, and geoscience among others.

“Indian and Northern Affairs Canada is working closely with key economic players in Nunavut to focus economic development investments in the areas of greatest importance to Nunavummiut,” said Minister Blondin-Andrew. “Working together to identify priorities is an important first step in the delivery of economic development funding in Nunavut and across Canada’s North.”

Indian and Northern Affairs Canada will continue to work with the Nunavut Economic Forum and the Government of Nunavut to refine the Territorial Investment Plan for Nunavut. A final investment plan, which will guide INAC’s decision-making on the proposals, will be available soon.

“We are very pleased to participate in the development of this plan,” said Monica Ell, president of the Nunavut Economic Forum. “We will continue to provide input and advice to Indian and Northern Affairs, as all parties assess and evaluate the performance of the plan. This will also strengthen the work the Forum is doing toward the implementation of the Nunavut Economic Development Strategy. The bottom line is there is serious money to be spent on economic development and a plan to ensure it has real payoff. That’s great news for Nunavut.”

“Collaboration between the federal and territorial levels of government is critical to economic development in Nunavut,” said Nancy Karetak-Lindell, Member of Parliament for Nunavut. “The Government of Canada’s investments in Nunavut will complement the work of the territorial government to build a stronger economy for all Nunavummiut.”
Investments have already begun in time-critical areas confirmed by the key economic players, such as geoscience. Over the next four years, $6 million in new northern economic development funds will be available in each territory annually. Indian and Northern Affairs Canada’s Nunavut Regional Office will deliver the program in Nunavut.

Investment plans are also under development in both Yukon and the Northwest Territories and are expected to be announced soon.

 

For more information please contact:

Pierre Collin
Special Assistant, Communications
Minister of State Blondin-Andrew’s Office
(819) 994-7626

Jonathan Dewar
Senior Communications Officer
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada - Nunavut
(867) 979-7941
dewarj@inac.gc.ca