News release
Office of the Secretary of State
(Rural Development)(Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario)
SECRETARY OF STATE HOSTS DISCUSSION ON RURAL PRIORITIES IN NUNAVUT
IQALUIT, NUNAVUT, Oct. 2, 2003 - A wide array of priorities for the future of northern, rural and remote Canadian communities were discussed at the latest in a series of roundtable discussions between community leaders and federal government representatives held in Nunavut this week.
The Honourable Andy Mitchell, Secretary of State (Rural Development) (Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario) hosted the event at the Discovery Lodge Hotel in Iqaluit. Representatives from the business and aboriginal communities, youth organizations, government and rural and urban economic development organizations joined together to discuss how communities can adjust and develop solutions to the changes affecting them. The discussion focused on such issues as youth, infrastructure, community capacity building, and entrepreneurship.
"Many good ideas were brought to the table during this discussion," said Mr. Mitchell. "This was an excellent opportunity to hear first hand about the issues that are important to rural and remote Canadians."
Mr. Mitchell was joined at the event by Nancy Karetak-Lindell, Member of Parliament for Nunavut.
"The roundtable was an exciting exchange of information and ideas. Nunavummiut face many challenges but our ability to adapt and innovate help us achieve great things," said Ms. Karetak-Lindell. "I thank the participants who took time out of their busy schedules to attend and contribute."
Participants found the roundtable a useful vehicle to express their ideas on life in northern Canada, as well as the future of their communities.
Goola Nakasuk, an Iqaluit Community Elder, said, "The roundtable was a good opportunity for us to discuss what we hold dear in our community - our youth. Our youth are caught between two worlds. We must pass on to youth our values and our ways of seeing the world if they are to continue to live here as we always have."
Richard Paton, of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., added, "This consultation is an excellent way to suggest solutions to key issues for the development of our Northern communities. Improved and expanded intergovernmental partnerships, namely in areas of skills development, could have a significant impact on community development in Nunavut."
The Iqaluit roundtable was part of a series to be held across Canada over the next several months. The session was part of the Rural Dialogue, which engages Canadians from rural, remote and northern regions in a discussion with the Government of Canada on opportunities, challenges and priorities. The Dialogue has engaged more than 16,000 Canadians who have taken the opportunity to help the government understand and react to local and regional issues since 1998. This input has helped shape the Government of Canada's rural agenda.
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