Canada and Northwest Territories Stimulate Northern Economy

Investments will create jobs, boost regional economy

• Backgrounder

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Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, July 11, 2009 – The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Regional Minister for the North, Minister of Health for Canada, and the Member of Parliament for Nunavut, and the Honourable Robert C. McLeod, Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs for the Northwest Territories, today announced that communities across the Northwestern Territories will benefit from over $1.4 million in joint stimulus investments for shovel ready infrastructure projects under existing programs and new money allocated in Canada's Economic Action Plan.

“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, our Government is stimulating our economy and keeping people working during these tough economic times,” said Minister Aglukkaq “This investment will improve infrastructure, create jobs and improve the quality of life in the Northwest Territories.”

Three infrastructure projects in the Northwest Territories will receive joint federal-territorial and federal-municipal investments totalling $1,453,000 under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund: the repair and renovation of the reception building at Nitainlaii Territorial Park, the rehabilitation of the utilidor system in the Town of Norman Wells, and the renovation and expansion of the Antoine Beaulieu Community Hall in Fort Resolution. Additional stimulus projects in the Northwest Territories are expected in the near future.

“The three projects announced today are the first selected to receive funds and these projects will improve critical community infrastructure in the Northwest Territories,” said Minister McLeod. “I look forward to continuing a strong partnership with Canada and NWT communities to identify projects that will help address the significant infrastructure deficit that exists in the NWT.”

Canada and the Northwest Territories are working together to create jobs and boost the economy, while making significant investments that help communities improve their infrastructure. Both governments have agreed to work together to ensure that these funds are delivered quickly and efficiently.

A backgrounder with information on the projects and details about the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund is attached.

For further information on investments in infrastructure in the Northwest Territories, visit www.creatingjobs.gc.ca.

To learn more about Canada's Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.

For more information, please contact:

Josée Bellemare
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq
Minister of Health
613-957-0200

Chris Day
Press Secretary
Office of Canada's Transport and Infrastructure Minister
613-991-0700

Infrastructure Canada
613-948-1148

Rebecca Alty
Communications and Website Advisor
Northwest Territories' Department of Municipal and Community Affairs
867-920-3092

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Backgrounder
INFRASTRUCTURE STIMULUS FUND IN THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES

The Government of Canada's Infrastructure Stimulus Fund (ISF) is already at work in the Northwest Territories. Three projects worth $1,453,000 have been approved for $726,500 in federal funding. Additional ISF projects will be announced at a future date.

About the Nitainlaii Territorial Park Reception Building Project, Inuvik Region

This project involves necessary repairs and renovations to the reception building at Nitainlaii Territorial Park to protect the integrity, security and overall appearance of the building. The Government of Canada will provide up to $76,500 in ISF funding and the Government of the Northwest Territories will match this amount. The total cost of this project is estimated at $153,000.

About the Underground Utilidor Repair Project, Town of Norman Wells

This $800,000 project will rehabilitate the utilidor system in the Town of Norman Wells and extend the overall life expectancy of the system by another 15-20 years. The federal government will contribute up to $400,000 of eligible project costs under the ISF, while the remaining $400,000 will be covered by the Town of Norman Wells.

About the Antoine Beaulieu Community Hall Project, Community of Fort Resolution

The Deninoo Community Council of Fort Resolution plans to renovate and expand the Antoine Beaulieu Community Hall to meet the growing needs of the community. The $500,000 project will include the addition of a commercial grade kitchen to accommodate community events, utility and furnace rooms with upgrades to the heating and ventilation systems. The Government of Canada will invest up to $250,000 through the ISF to cover eligible project costs and the Community of Fort Resolution will contribute matching funds.

About the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund

Through Canada's Economic Action Plan, the federal government has established a new Infrastructure Stimulus Fund that provides funding to provincial, territorial and municipal construction-ready infrastructure rehabilitation projects. Funding is available for two years for projects that will be built during the 2009 and 2010 construction seasons.

The Infrastructure Stimulus Fund complements existing federal infrastructure funding by focusing on short-term objectives for economic stimulus. To further this goal of rapid economic stimulus, the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund will focus on construction–readiness as important project selection criteria.