Minister to attend Northern Development Ministers Conference

NLIS 3
September 20, 2001
(Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs)

Minister to attend Northern Development Ministers' Conference

Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs Minister Ernie McLean will meet with other ministers responsible for northern development next week to discuss opportunities for advancing social and economic development in Northern Canada.

Seven provinces, the three northern territories and the Government of Canada will be represented at the Northern Development Ministers Conference in La Ronge, Saskatchewan September 27-28. At a similar meeting last fall in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, hosted by Mr. McLean, northern ministers agreed to consider establishing a permanent Northern Development Ministers� Council to facilitate greater inter-governmental cooperation. A proposal to create the council will be revealed during this year�s conference.

"I look forward to meeting with the ministers from other jurisdictions to share our experiences and ideas, and to discuss how we can meet our objective of strengthening Canada�s northern regions, both socially and economically," said Mr. McLean.

The La Ronge meeting will examine a number of social and economic initiatives under way in Northern Canada, including:

�	Newfoundland and Labrador�s progress in implementing northern elements of the province�s Strategic
	Social Plan;
�	Quebec�s recently approved northern development policy;
�	Alberta�s strategy for recruitment and retention of public service professionals in the northern region
	of that province;
�	Ontario�s plan to establish a medical school in its northern region;
�	Nunavut�s assessment of economic development prospects in the Arctic; and
�	Saskatchewan�s forest economic development strategy.

Federal Indian and Northern Affairs Minister Robert Nault has been invited to lead a discussion about strengthening northern development partnerships among federal, provincial and territorial governments.

"This conference will be a good opportunity for me to discuss issues that are of common concern among other northern development ministers," said the minister.

Media contact: Bert Pomeroy, Communications, (709) 896-8668.

2001 09 20 3:35 p.m.

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