NORTHERN INDUSTRY AND PEOPLE WORKING TOGETHER SAYS GOULET

Released on February 13, 1997

Northern Affairs Minister Keith Goulet says industry and northern
people are successfully working together to create new business and
employment opportunities in Northern Saskatchewan. Employment in
Northern Saskatchewan is reaching record numbers as more than 1,000
northerners are employed in the mining industry. Last year's value of
wages paid to northern people and the value of goods and services
purchased from northern companies and northern joint ventures achieved
a record total of more than $125 million.

Goulet presented these facts as he spoke to the first Northern
Saskatchewan Business Opportunities Forum held in La Ronge this past
weekend. The conference, hosted by Saskatchewan Northern Affairs and
the Kitsaki Development Corporation, was attended by more than 200
people involved in northern resource development and small business.

"New business, training and employment opportunities, and a record
number of northern young people enrolled in post-secondary education,
hold great promise for the North as we move into a new century," Goulet
said.

The minister said the Northern Business Opportunities Forum provided an
opportunity for northern people to build on the success of recent
achievements in increasing northern participation in business.

"There has been a tremendous feeling of working together and learning
from each other at this conference," Goulet said. "Small business,
industry and government are demonstrating co-operation and
determination in developing our northern economy."

Goulet said he was inspired by hearing the experiences of northern
entrepreneurs expressed during a panel discussion by business people
from communities such as Fond du Lac, Pinehouse and Pelican Narrows.
He said the perseverance and hard work of the northern business
community, together with increased employment in mining and forestry,
has created a new sense of hope as northerners become more
self-sufficient.

In noting the success of the first Business Forum, which focused on
mining and forestry, the minister said future forums would be held to
explore the potential of broadening northern tourism.

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For more information, contact

Richard Turkheim
Director of Resource Development
Northern Affairs
La Ronge
Phone: (306) 425-4204

Pam Schwann
Director Northern Mines Monitoring Secretariat
La Ronge
Phone: (306) 425-4211