Call Made To Renew Northern Development Deal
Wednesday, October 24, 2007 at 13:16
The Northern Development Agreement Board is worried its funding will not be renewed when it expires this coming March.
The five-year agreement with the provincial and federal governments has provided $20 million to northern communities for various economic development projects.
Meadow Lake Tribal Council Vice-Chief Eric Sylvestre is the board’s vice-chair.
Sylvestre says neither government has responded to requests to meet and sign another five-year deal.
He says, as a result of the agreement, 1,700 northerners were trained in some capacity — and most of them still have jobs.
Sylvestre maintains the board has the documentation to prove it was worthwhile and needs to continue.
He alsosays the board would like to see some changes to the agreement so that communities can benefit from uranium and oil sands exploration.