2-02604

NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO FIRST NATIONS MOVING FORWARD ON CAPITAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

RED LAKE, ONTARIO (March 31, 2005) - Five northwestern Ontario First Nations, working in partnership with the Government of Canada, are improving the quality of life in their communities through major capital and economic development projects.

“The Government of Canada’s goal is to ensure that every single First Nation has a clean and safe supply of drinking water, and to ensure that Canada’s prosperity is shared by Canada’s Aboriginal people,” said the Honourable Andy Scott, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians. “Partnerships like these, with First Nations bringing Canada’s investments to life in their communities, are great examples of how we can work together to improve the quality of life on-reserve.”

Member of Parliament for Kenora, Roger Valley, said projects like these show progress towards improving the quality of life for First Nations people. “These communities should be proud of their work to bring change to the members of this community,” he said. “The Government of Canada is pleased to be working with First Nations to be a part of that change.”

The Government of Canada, through Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, has provided a total of almost $11 million for four major projects being managed by northwestern Ontario First Nations:

• $5.4 million for a new water treatment plant at Kasabonika Lake First Nation (construction is expected to begin in June 2005 and be complete in early 2006);
  
• $4.1 million for a new water treatment plant at the Ojibways of Onigaming First Nation (construction began in October 2004, and the plant is expected to be operational by September 2005);
  
• $1.3 million for a new wastewater treatment lagoon at Fort Severn First Nation, (operational since the Fall of 2004); and
• $162,000 to the Nibinamik First Nation, to be used by Nibinamik working with Wunnumin Lake First Nation to negotiate an impact benefit agreement with De Beers Canada, a mining company interested in exploration in their traditional territories.

More information is available in the attached Backgrounder, “First Nation Water/Wastewater Improvements and Economic Development in Northwestern Ontario.”

For further information, please contact:

Susan Bertrand
Senior Information Officer
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
(807) 624-1531

Chief Gordon Anderson
Kasabonika Lake First Nation
(807) 535-2547

Chief Bobby Kelly
Ojibways of Onigaming First Nation
(807) 484-2162

Chief Roy Gray
Fort Severn First Nation
(807) 478-2572

Deputy Chief Harvey Yellowhead
Nibinamik First Nation
(807) 593-2131

Backgrounder - First Nation Water/Wastewater Improvements and Economic Development in Northwestern Ontario

Back to News Release Index