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 2-02695 AQUA-CULTURE NORDIK FISH FARM OPENS FOR BUSINESS IN PORT-DANIEL-GASCONSPORT-DANIEL-GASCONS (QUEBEC), August 9, 2005 - The members of the Malecites of Viger Band Council, the Honourable Andy Scott, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians, Nathalie Normandeau, Minister responsible for the Gaspesie-Îles-de-la-madeleine region, Geoffrey Kelley, Minister for Native Affairs, and the representatives of the Government of Quebec, are pleased to announce the official opening of Aqua-Culture Nordik, a business specializing in the breeding of Arctic char and brook trout. Aqua-Culture Nordik is the outcome of a partnership between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people. The Malecites of Viger First Nation are the majority shareholder, owning 60% of shares. The company anticipates producing 50 tons of Arctic char and 10 tons of brook trout annually. Its plans call for the creation of upwards of ten permanent and seasonal jobs. The project has already produced an estimated $1 million worth of economic spin-offs for the Chaleur Bay area. The company would never have gotten off the drawing board without the financial aid of numerous partners: the Government of Quebec, through the Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation and the Secrétariat aux affaires autochtones : $850 000 (contribution); Indian and Northern Affairs Canada: $650 000 (contribution); the Financière agricole du Québec : $410 000 (loan); the Centre financier aux entreprises Desjardins du Bas-St-Laurent: $250 000 (loan); the Société d’aide au développement de la collectivité du Rocher-Percé (SADC) : $85 000 (loan); and the Centre local de développement du Rocher-Percé : $25 000 (loan) and 20 000$ (grant). The Band Council and the promoters also contributed financially to the project, for a total investment of nearly $2.5 million. “The Aqua-Culture Nordik fish farm project constitutes an excellent business opportunity for which the band council unhesitatingly signed on. For one, this initiative serves to diversify the income sources of the Malecite First Nation. Furthermore, it offers band members, and young people in particular, unique occasions for technical training and steady employment in an industry currently experiencing strong growth,” declared the members of the Malecites of Viger Band Council. "This project is innovative and constitutes a remarkable example of a successful partnership between Natives and non-Natives. Projects such as this one are crucial in creating a new vitality for the region within a perspective of sustainable development," said Minister Nathalie Normandeau. “Aqua-Culture Nordik is a telling example of what Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people are able to accomplish when they pool their efforts with a view to spurring a region’s economic development. On behalf of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, I would like to congratulate all those who worked tirelessly to make this major project become a reality,” said Minister Scott. " The Government of Québec is proud to support companies such as Aqua-Culture Nordik, which fosters Native job creation and stimulates entrepreneurship. It is a good example of a business partnership that, through creativity and ingenuity, is also respectful of the environment, " said Minister Kelley. It is also worth noting that Aqua-Culture Nordik will be the first fish farm business in Quebec to exclusively rely on water-recirculation technology for breeding Arctic char on an industrial basis. This technology, which is customarily used with smaller aquaculture products, offers numerous environmental and commercial advantages and thus affords maximum productivity all year long. The Malecites of Viger First Nation is located next door to Cacouna, in the Lower St. Lawrence region, and numbers 759 members. For further information, please contact: Aqua-Culture Nordik Government of Quebec
Kevin Dobie Government of Canada
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| Last Updated: 2005-08-11 | 
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