Michael McLeod, MP for the Northwest Territories, on behalf of the Honorable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities; the Honorable Shane Thompson, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Minister of Lands and Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs; and Her Worship Rebecca Alty, President of the Northwest Territories Communities Association and Mayor of the City of Yellowknife, announced funding totaling more than $26 million for ten projects across the territory that will improve recreational infrastructure and increase forest fire protection. Together, Canada, the Northwest Territories and First Nations communities are working to ensure the health and safety of all residents, advance meaningful reconciliation, including economic reconciliation, and strengthen First Nations communities in the North.
“With today’s announcement, we are helping to build strong and prosperous communities in the Northwest Territories. By investing in recreational and cultural infrastructure, we ensure that residents have access to greater opportunities to connect and practice their traditions and cultures. And through our investment to better mitigate the effects of wildfires, we are ensuring that infrastructure, like the projects we announce, and residents are better protected from natural disasters,” said Michael McLeod, MP for the Territories. Northwest, on behalf of the Honorable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities.
“This financial contribution from the Government of Canada to improve resilience to wildfires and to invest in cultural and recreational projects represents a collaboration of all levels of government and a shared commitment to protect and improve the quality of life of residents. of the NWT. It represents the spirit of cooperation needed to meet the needs of residents and strengthen communities,” said the Honorable Shane Thompson, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Minister of Lands and Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.
By investing in infrastructure, the Government of Canada is growing our country’s economy, building the resilience of our communities and improving the lives of Canadians.
Part of the funding announced today will allow the Association of Communities of the Northwest Territories, in collaboration with the Government of the Northwest Territories, to work with small, remote communities to create firebreaks and implemented fuel reduction strategies for over 1,200 hectares of land. When completed, this work will reduce the risk of wildfires across the territory and provide tens of thousands of residents with better protection from the devastating effects of wildfires, protecting their homes, businesses, livelihoods. and the environment.
Additional funding will support nine recreational infrastructure projects across the territory, including funding for Nahanni Butte, which will support the development of a modern stage for live entertainment that will be equipped with performance instruments and crates resonance for stage performances and recreational activities. Once completed, this new cultural hub will allow community members to celebrate diversity and preserve their culture.
“This announcement is great news for NWT communities. It’s such an important demonstration of how, by working together, we can accomplish so much more. The development work done by the GNWT Forestry Division with community governments to produce Community Wildfire Protection Plans was the groundwork needed to prepare us to fulfill the request and now we are all moving forward. in partnership to see all necessary firewalls built and the residents and assets of the Northwest Territories are protected,” said Her Worship Rebecca Alty, President of the Communities Association of the Northwest Territories and Mayor from the city of Yellowknife.
The Government of Canada is investing over $24.5 million in these projects.
Fast facts
- Federal funding is conditional on meeting all requirements related to consultation with Aboriginal groups.
- Government of Canada funding for these projects comes from the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund (CAMF), the Community, Culture and Recreation Infrastructure (CCRIS) component of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program and Community Development Canada (CCDF).
- The Government of Canada is investing $4,517,848 through CCRIS for nine recreational infrastructure projects, and an additional $80,000 through CCBF for the Nahanni Butte Performance Stage project.
- Through DMAF, the Government of Canada is investing $19,985,264 in the territory-wide wildfire protection project.
- Under the Investing in Canada plan, the federal government is investing more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes and rural communities and northern Canada.
- Over the past six years, the Government of Canada has invested more than $329 million in more than 90 infrastructure projects in the Northwest Territories through the Investing in Canada infrastructure program.
- During this time, more than $47.9 billion has been invested in communities across Canada to support modern, world-class public infrastructure, including more than $4.8 billion for recreational infrastructure projects, culture and disaster mitigation.
- DMAF was launched in 2018 as a 10-year, $2 billion program to help communities build the infrastructure they need to better withstand natural hazards such as floods, wildfires, earthquakes soil and droughts. Budget 2021 provided DMAF with an additional $1.375 billion over 12 years.
- To date, more than $2.1 billion has been announced through DMAF for 71 infrastructure projects that will help protect communities across the country from the threats of climate change.
- Infrastructure Canada helps address the complex challenges Canadians face every day, from the rapid growth of our cities to climate change, to environmental threats to our waters and lands.
Related products
Backgrounder: Communities in the Northwest Territories will benefit from improved essential community and recreational infrastructure
Related links
Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program
https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/icp-pic-INFC-eng.html
Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund
http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/dmaf-faac/index-eng.html
Investing in Canada: Canada’s Long-Term Infrastructure Plan
http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/icp-publication-pic-eng.html
Federal Infrastructure Investments in the Northwest Territories
https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/prog-proj-nt-eng.html
contacts
For more information (media only), please contact:
Jean-Sebastien Comeau
Press officer and communication advisor
Office of the Honorable Dominic LeBlanc
Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities
343-574-8116
Jean-Sé[email protected]
Mike Westwick
Manager, Communications and Public Affairs
Environment and Natural Resources, Government of the Northwest Territories
867-688-0958
[email protected]
Jay brag
Communications Planning Specialist
Municipal and Community Affairs, Government of the Northwest Territories
867-767-9162 ext. 21044
[email protected]
Sara Brown, P.Eng.
Chief executive officer
Northwest Territories Communities Association
867-873-8359
[email protected]
Media Relations
Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251
Toll Free: 1-877-250-7154
Email: [email protected]
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