Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Canada/NWT infrastructure program is a two-year program designed to support the development and renewal of local infrastructure and to create training and employment opportunities. The agreement includes the commitment of approximately $5.4 million in Government of the Northwest Territories funding and an equal amount in federal contributions. Tax-based municipalities are also expected to contribute up to an additional $1.6 million, which would increase the total funding for infrastructure projects to over $12 million. The funding is divided between communities based on the number of working-aged people who were not employed in each community during the 1994 labour force survey. Minimum and maximum levels of funding for communities have been established.
This helps to ensure that smaller communities receive at least a minimum level of support even though their actual allocation based on the formula would be less. The program is being administered at the regional level by the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. Regional superintendents, in cooperation with the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, have distributed information about the program to qualifying groups and organizations.
Local governments, band councils, designated land claim organizations, and public and private organizations were invited to participate by establishing community coordination groups in order to review, set priorities and recommend community proposals for funding. Every effort is made to encourage community consensus on proposals recommended for funding.
To date, Mr. Speaker, the co-management committee consisting of federal and territorial representatives has convened four times to review proposals. The meetings were held on November 9 and 30, 1994 and February 17 and March 31, 1995. A total of 61 proposals valued at nearly $6.8 million were approved from 35 communities in six regions.
Twenty five long-term and 290 short-term jobs have been created by these projects. All proposals which are reviewed received an environmental impact review and must demonstrate that any required ongoing operations and maintenance costs will be provided by the project sponsors.
Ongoing meetings of the co-management committee are scheduled as the need arises to assess submissions. As well, regions are encouraged to continuously advertise the program and solicit proposals from communities which have not spent their allocations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.