Government News Releases About the North

Four residents of northern Saskatchewan graduate today from the Social Housing Management Learning Program, an initiative of Saskatchewan Housing Corporation.

Premier Brad Wall today announced the appointment of Ron Crowe to the position of Deputy Minister in the Ministry of First Nations and Métis Relations.

Northern Saskatchewan communities can look forward to improved infrastructure thanks to the renewal of the Northern Capital Grants program.

Highways and Infrastructure Minister Wayne Elhard just completed a three-day, 2,600 kilometre (km) tour of northern Saskatchewan as part of an infrastructure assessment to determine future planning needs.

A historic dialogue began today in Prince Albert between six government ministers and First Nations leaders from Prince Albert Grand Council (PAGC) and the Meadow Lake Tribal Council (MLTC).

The Saskatchewan Watershed Authority and the North Saskatchewan River Basin Council officially released Saskatchewan's seventh source water protection plan today.

A final $1.68 million investment towards four projects brings an end to the $20 million Canada-Saskatchewan Northern Development Agreement (NDA).

Federal, provincial and territorial development Ministers representing Canada’s northern jurisdictions met this week in Yellowknife for their annual two-day meeting.

With a record of 90 per cent of trainees securing employment, a third class of the Meadow Lake Tribal Council's oil rig training course is set to begin. Funding for this project is being delivered through the Canada-Saskatchewan Northern Development Agreement (NDA).

The Province has completed is preparations for the 2008 forest fire season. Citizens are reminded that free burning permits are required for any outdoor burning project undertaken in or within 4.5 kilometres of a provincial forest from April 1 to October 31.

Recreational facilities and civic water treatment and disposal systems, including sewage treatment systems in Beauval, will be upgraded thanks to a joint investment from the Government of Canada and Province of Saskatchewan.

SaskPower is continuing its efforts to improve electrical service to northern communities. Work is currently underway on a $15.6 million project to rebuild the 72-kilovolt (kV) power line serving areas north of Prince Albert, along the corridor to La Ronge.

Social Services Minister Donna Harpauer joined several La Loche high school students today to celebrate the completion of a project that will help to meet affordable housing needs in their community. As part of their school curriculum, the students constructed a house to industry standards, gaining valuable experience in the building trades and providing a family with a new home.

New North, the Saskatchewan Association of Northern Communities, is receiving a grant of $50,000 to study the feasibility of regional waste management in the northern part of the province.

Energy and Resources Minister Bill Boyd will be a keynote speaker on Saskatchewan's uranium strengths and potential at an industry conference in Vancouver this week.

Four innovative Saskatchewan health care projects will receive funding from the Aboriginal Health Transition Fund, including $770,000 to the Northern Health Strategy, which includes 13 partner agencies.

The provincial and federal governments today announced $33 million in joint funding for an Aboriginal Skills and Employment Partnership (ASEP) project known as the Northern Career Quest Partnership. It will provide training and skills development opportunities for 1,500 Aboriginal people in northern Saskatchewan, leading to long-term jobs in the resource sector.

The province is hosting a Northern Women's Gathering in Prince Albert today, aimed at building the leadership capacity of Aboriginal women in Saskatchewan's northern communities. The gathering promotes and supports Aboriginal women's leadership, and helps define a new role for government as a partner with Aboriginal women to champion healthy northern communities.

The Saskatchewan Prevention Institute is receiving more than $100,000 in funding from the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) awareness and prevention. The grants will also support the Saskatchewan Northern FASD Speakers' Bureau which focuses on increasing FASD education among front-line workers, caregivers and professionals in northern Saskatchewan.

Athabasca Health Authority is receiving approximately $117,000 in funding from the provincial government to make its facilities safer for patients and staff. The regional health authority will use the funding to buy safety equipment and train staff in its use. Items to be purchased include patient lifting equipment and new furnishings for hospital and long term care rooms.

Keewatin Yatthé Health Region is receiving almost $150,000 in funding from the provincial government to make its facilities safer for patients and staff. The health region will use the funding to buy safety equipment and train staff in its use. Items to be purchased include electric beds, ceiling lift tracks and bariatric equipment.

Mamawetan Churchill River Health Region is receiving more than $140,000 in funding from the provincial government to make its facilities safer for patients and staff. The health region will use the funding to buy safety equipment and train staff in its use. Items to be purchased include bariatric beds, bariatric wheelchairs and patient lift equipment.

Mamawetan Churchill River Health Region employees can look forward to improved workplaces, reduced burnout and more professional development opportunities, thanks to a series of new projects funded by retention grants offered by the provincial government.

The Government of Saskatchewan announced the names of the 10 individuals who have agreed to sit on the Enterprise Saskatchewan Board of Directors. The list includes June Draude, Minister of First Nations and Métis Relations and Minister Responsible for Northern Affairs, and Gary Merasty of Cameco Corporation.

Saskatchewan's mining industry is setting records, from level of exploration to mineral dispositions to sales. This success story will be front and centre next week in Toronto at the most important international event in mineral exploration, the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) 2008 International Convention, which draws 18,000 delegates.

The Haywood Canada Cup 2008 Western Canadian Championships are underway at Saskatchewan's own Lac La Ronge Provincial Park on the beautiful Don Allen Trails, 20 km north of La Ronge.

Initial clearing work is set to begin on the longest new road right-of-way in Saskatchewan to link more than 1,200 residents of Wollaston Lake and the adjoining Hatchet Lake Denesuline First Nation with Highway 905 in the far north.

The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) and the Métis Nation - Saskatchewan (MNS) are each receiving $150,000 from the Province to support their efforts to plan and prepare for an upcoming roundtable conference that will have a significant impact upon Saskatchewan's economy.

The Government of Saskatchewan said today it has received more than 300 applications for 10 nominee positions on its new provincial economic development agency, Enterprise Saskatchewan.

Investment and development opportunities in Saskatchewan's thriving oil and gas industry are being promoted to a global audience this week at a major international energy show in Houston, Texas.

Saskatchewan, BC, Alberta and Manitoba will co-operate to advance a western Canadian water resource and conservation plan as a part of climate change adaptation.

Saskatchewan's record mineral sales of $4.6 billion for 2007 and exploration expenditures of about $277 million are being touted at the annual Mineral Exploration Roundup in Vancouver.

Ministry officials with Saskatchewan Enterprise and Innovation sent out over 300 invitations this past week to Saskatchewan organizations inviting them to put forward nominees to the Board of Enterprise Saskatchewan.