No. P04/06
For release March 27, 2006

FOND DU LAC OFFICIALLY
TRANSFERRED TO LOCAL INTERESTS

FOND DU LAC, SK — The Fond du Lac First Nation Development Corporation took over port operations at the Fond du Lac port facility, effective March 24, 2006. The transfer agreement includes a $50,000 contribution from Transport Canada’s Port Divestiture Fund to offset initial operating costs, such as repairs and ongoing maintenance.

Brian Fitzpatrick, Member of Parliament for Prince Albert, on behalf of Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, announced the official transfer today. The Fond du Lac port facility includes an approach and a wharf.

“The Fond du Lac First Nation Development Corporation is to be congratulated for joining the move towards a new era of port management,” said Mr. Fitzpatrick. “Having this facility run by local people who best know its role in the community — and its potential for growth — will allow it to function in a more commercial and cost effective manner.”

Transport Canada’s Port Divestiture Program was established in 1996, as part of the National Marine Policy, with the objective of transferring Regional/Local port sites to other interests. In some cases, ports are being transferred as operating ports; in other cases, Crown land and facilities are being transferred to interested parties for other uses.

“The National Marine Policy enables ports to respond more effectively to the needs of their customers,” said Mr. Cannon. “The better use of transportation infrastructure in this manner will ultimately provide a boost to trade, tourism and job creation.”

Fond du Lac was one of Transport Canada’s Regional/Local ports that range from large facilities that support significant local and regional commercial activity to very small facilities with little or no commercial traffic.

Federal funding for this initiative is provided for in the existing financial framework.

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