Thank you, Madam Speaker. On August 24th, the governments of Canada and the Northwest Territories signed a Canada/NWT infrastructure program agreement. The program is intended to create short and long-term employment through investment in local communities, while meeting the need to enhance physical infrastructure in those communities.
Recognizing the unique situation in the NWT, the national infrastructure program and the aboriginal infrastructure program have been combined into a single program. Through the agreement, the federal government and the Government of the Northwest Territories will each provide $5.4 million over the next two years. A further potential contribution of up to $2 million from the tax-based communities will increase the total fund to approximately $12 million.
The infrastructure program follows the model of the successful NWT workers' training fund program, allowing communities to determine their own priorities and administer the projects. Communities may develop one major project or several smaller ones.
All communities in the NWT have been assigned a funding allocation, based on the number of working age people who are not employed. A maximum and minimum level of funding has been set to allow sufficient funds for small communities to develop projects of a reasonable size.
The Department of Education, Culture and Employment is responsible for implementing and delivering this program, with assistance from Municipal and Community Affairs. A management committee has been established to administer and manage the program, headed by Mr. Mark Cleveland, assistant deputy minister of culture and careers and Mr. Warren Johnson, NWT regional director of Indian and Northern Affairs for the federal government.
Madam Speaker, the NWT/Canada infrastructure program allows participants to undertake and invest in worthwhile infrastructure projects. The program assists the government in achieving its goal of increased control at the local level, while it helps my department reach its goal of providing increased training and work experience opportunities at the community level. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
---Applause