Government News Releases About the North

2011

Saskatchewan's Boreal Forest region contains some of the highest quality fresh water in the world. The Ministry of Environment is working with partners on a comprehensive monitoring program for northern Saskatchewan to address environmental concerns.

The University of Saskatchewan's International Centre for Northern Governance and Development (ICNGD) announced new investments in research and education for northern Saskatchewan.

Missinipe Recreation Site, located in Lac La Ronge Provincial Park, is getting a new maintenance shop.

A new group home and day program facility for people with intellectual disabilities officially opened today in Île-à-la-Crosse. The project is a partnership between Sakitawak Group Home, Inc., a community-based organization (CBO), and the Ministry of Social Services.

Premier Brad Wall says a new sawmill and planer mill development near Big River is the latest example of the resurgence Saskatchewan has seen in its forest industry. The premier was in Big River today to announce that Carrier Forest Products Ltd. will re-establish a mill complex near the town.

Patients in Mamawetan Churchill River Health Region will benefit from reduced wait times and improved access as result of a secure computer system for the storage, retrieval and display of diagnostic images such as X-rays and ultrasounds.

A group of 19 northern high school students are travelling to Regina this weekend to participate in the Youth Mentorship Program and learn about Saskatchewan's provincial government, its history and heritage.

SaskTel has expanded its 4G wireless network to 16 more locations across the province of Saskatchewan.

The Prince Albert Pulp Mill is open for the first time in five years and moving toward a full restart of pulp operations. Paper Excellence has finalized the company's purchase of a facility that has been shut since 2006.

Health Minister Don McMorris today announced the appointment of La Ronge resident Miles Bean to the Mamawetan Churchill River Regional Health Authority Board. He also announced the designation of Ronald Woytowich as Chairperson and Ron Pratt as Vice-Chairperson.

The Government of Saskatchewan has confirmed that it is withdrawing from the Freshwater Fish Marketing Agreement (FFMA) with the Government of Canada, on April 1, 2012, one year later than originally proposed.

Premier Brad Wall and Energy and Resources Minister Bill Boyd are welcoming DOMTAR's announcement today that the Prince Albert Pulp Mill has been sold to Paper Excellence.

The Saskatchewan government has committed an additional $36.2 million to the clean-up of an abandoned uranium mine site in northern Saskatchewan.

2010

Beginning January 1, Lac La Ronge Indian Band Child and Family Services, Inc., through an agreement with the Ministry of Social Services, will provide after-hour and weekend emergency child protection services to off-reserve residents in the communities of La Ronge, Stanley Mission, Stony Rapids, Wollaston, Black Lake, Southend, Uranium City and Pinehouse.

Rob Clarke, Member of Parliament for Desnethe - Missinippi, along with Donna Harpauer, Minister of Education for Saskatchewan, and Robert Sylvester, Chief of the Birch Narrows First Nation, today unveiled a new $25-million comprehensive school on the Birch Narrows First Nation.

Health Minister Don McMorris announced the appointment of La Ronge Fire Chief Ron Pratt and youth program coordinator Lorraine Bear of Sandy Bay, to the Mamawetan Churchill River Regional Health Authority Board.

The provincial government today introduced a new royalty system for future diamond production in Saskatchewan

The community of Stanley Mission, also known by its Cree Name "Amachewespimawin", along with its leaders, Elders and residents is inviting everyone to attend a celebration commemorating the 150th anniversary of the completion of the Holy Trinity Anglican Church on June 10.

People with intellectual disabilities in Île-à-la Crosse will have better access to residential and day programming, following the announcement today of $540,000 in funding toward the construction of a group home and an adult day-program facility in that community.

Three families in La Loche, La Ronge and Pinehouse Lake have a place to call their own, thanks to high school students in these communities who, along with other partners, constructed the homes to help meet the need for affordable housing in northern Saskatchewan.

The Government of Canada and the Province of Saskatchewan today officially opened 20 new units of affordable rental housing for families in La Ronge.

An agreement has been signed to move forward with feasibility studies on a run of the river hydroelectric project at Elizabeth Falls near Fond du Lac that would provide up to 50 megawatts (MW) of power to the provincial electrical grid.

The Ministry of Health and the Métis Nation-Saskatchewan are developing a youth suicide prevention project in the north. The project is receiving $300,000 from Health Canada's Aboriginal Health Transition Fund (AHTF).

Saskatchewan is a mineral powerhouse, and our wealth of resources and opportunities will be on display this week in Toronto at the most important international event in mineral exploration.

Work on a 15-km section of Highway 155 will begin this year as part of the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure's Northern Transportation Strategy.

The communities of Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation (PBCN), Flying Dust First Nation (FDFN), Sakitawak Development Corporation (SDC) and the Town of Nipawin have each been allocated $100,000 to draw up economic plans and carry out feasibility studies on economic projects.

2009

The provincial government today outlined its strategic direction for uranium development in Saskatchewan. Under that direction uranium exploration and mining will be enhanced, value-added nuclear research, education and training will be encouraged, but a specific proposal for a large-scale nuclear power plant will not proceed at this time.

More than two million cubic metres of wood volume are set to be reallocated from the Prince Albert Forest Management Agreement (FMA) to a group of 10 northern forest companies and First Nations.

The provincial government has introduced the Northern Municipalities Act, 2009, a consistent, strengthened foundation for municipal government which responds to specific needs, including allowing criminal record checks, of people in Saskatchewan's north.

The Olympic torch is making its first visit to Saskatchewan in advance of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games. Tomorrow, La Ronge and area residents will celebrate the arrival of the Olympic Torch.

The Ministry of First Nations and Métis Relations along with Enterprise Saskatchewan will lead the creation of three new Enterprise Regions in the Northern Administrative District.

Approximately $2 million in federal and provincial funds will help create 20 new affordable housing units for low-income families in La Ronge.

A new rental housing project for low to moderate-income seniors officially opened today in Pinehouse, thanks to a $300,000 funding commitment from the federal and provincial governments.

Saskatchewan's three northern school divisions, with a workforce of 789 strong, agreed to take steps to increase Aboriginal participation in their workplaces at a ceremony in Prince Albert this afternoon.

Today in La Ronge, Lieutenant Governor Gordon Barnhart joined First Nations and Métis Relations Minister Bill Hutchinson, who represented Deputy Premier and Minister of Education Ken Krawetz, and past and present recipients of the Lieutenant Governor's Awards of Excellence to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Northern Saskatchewan Student Awards Program.

Saskatchewan people need more information and the province needs to take its time with future uranium development. Those were some of the key conclusions in a report prepared for the provincial government by Dan Perrins, Chair of The Future of Uranium in Saskatchewan public consultation process.

In an effort to combat illegal drug use and its associated criminal activities in northern Saskatchewan, the Ministry of Corrections, Public Safety and Policing is funding a new enforcement unit made up of members from the RCMP and the Prince Albert Police Service.

Cameco Corporation's former Contact Lake gold mine has the distinction of being the first decommissioned and reclaimed mine site to be entered in the Saskatchewan government's Institutional Control Registry.

A new committee that will guide development of the transportation network for northern Saskatchewan held its first meeting in Prince Albert today. The Northern Transportation Advisory Committee (NTAC) has a mandate to advise government on the development of a comprehensive Northern Transportation Strategy.

Energy and Resources Minister Bill Boyd today announced the government's signing of a Letter of Intent with Iogen Energy and Domtar for the proposed development of a first-of-its-kind cellulosic-based ethanol plant and bioenergy facility at the site.

The Ministry of First Nations and Métis Relations begins the next phase of the implementation of Enterprise Regions in Northern Saskatchewan next week with public meetings in the communities of Beauval and Air Ronge.

Two northern Saskatchewan villages, Beauval and Green Lake, have received $125,000 to draw up economic development plans as part of the government's support to strengthen economic opportunities and revitalize communities affected by the negative impact of the downturn in the forest sector.

The government today released a new framework for policies to encourage development of Saskatchewan's forest industry.

First Nations and Métis Relations Deputy Minister Ron Crowe is pleased to announce the appointment of Toby Greschner as Assistant Deputy Minister responsible for Northern Affairs effective May 1, 2009.

More than 100 groups in northern Saskatchewan have received approximately $213,000 from the government's charitable gaming grant program.

Health employees in northern Saskatchewan can look forward to improved workplaces, thanks to a project funded by workforce retention grants offered by the provincial government.

First Nations and Métis Relations (FNMR) will launch Northern Enterprise Regions in the 2009-10 Budget year and also begin exploratory discussions with First Nations, and Métis people and industry on substantive issues not addressed under the Draft Consultation Policy Framework.

The 2009-10 Provincial Budget boosts transportation spending to $630 million - the largest transportation budget in Saskatchewan's history.

The Government of Saskatchewan is providing Keewatin Yatthé Health Region with an additional $490,000 to cover operating costs this year.

Saskatchewan's rich mineral resource opportunities will command attention this week in Toronto at the most important international event in mineral exploration.