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NORTHERN DEVELOPMENT SUPPORTED BY BUDGET

Released on March 30, 2001

Northern education, resource exploration and infrastructure are all

strengthened by today's provincial budget.



Northern Affairs Minister Keith Goulet said commitments for the Northern

Administration District are consistent with the budget's province-wide

priority of connecting all Saskatchewan residents to future

opportunities.



"Investments being made today will help to achieve a bright and vibrant

future for northern Saskatchewan," Goulet said. "I am particularly pleased

we are able to increase our support for education and children's programs."



Investment in northern community schools and other community education

initiatives will be approximately $1.4 million in 2001-02. This includes

an additional $360,000 in recognized expenditures through the Foundation

Operating Grant for the North's ten community schools, and an additional

$120,000 to expand the Community Schools Program into secondary schools.

As well, the province will provide funding to make school programs more

relevant for Aboriginal students, to assist in recruiting teachers and

education specialists for the North, to improve math and science

preparation, and for programs that support early childhood development.



The number of personnel supporting child welfare programs will also be

increased.



A total of $859,000 will be allocated to forestry training programs this

year, an increase of $109,000. The provincial government administers the

training fund in partnership with the Northern Labour Market Committee.

Its purpose is to ensure residents can take advantage of existing and

future employment opportunities in the expanding forestry sector of

Saskatchewan's economy.



Northern forestry development will also benefit from enhancements to the

provincial forest fire detection and suppression program and by continuing

business development supports administered by Saskatchewan Northern Affairs.



A $920,000 increase for geological research, a 50 per cent reduction in

fees for registering mineral exploration permits, a tax credit that

encourages residents to invest in mineral exploration activity, and planned

improvements to exploration regulations will benefit the province's mineral

sector. Goulet said these measures, supported by an additional Energy and

Mines' geologist position in La Ronge, are sure to attract more exploration

to northern Saskatchewan and contribute to the longer-term objective of

diversifying northern mining.



The province is continuing its commitment to improving northern

infrastructure. Highways and airport expenditures in the Northern

Administration District will again exceed $30 million. This includes more

than $2.5 million in new construction for Highway 155, the main

transportation artery for the northwestern region of the province.



In addition to a new hospital in Stony Rapids, completing construction of

the new La Loche health centre, and a new elementary school in Pinehouse,

the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation will continue to implement its three-

year, $9 million program for northern housing.



Separate from budget provisions within individual departments, northern

capital spending will again benefit from the Centenary Fund, established by

the government last year. A further $2.5 million from the fund will be

allocated to northern sewer and water construction, supplementing the

province's capital grants to northern municipalities and other

infrastructure programs.



Saskatchewan Northern Affairs will also create a new position to work full-

time on implementing the government's northern hiring and purchasing

policies. These policies are intended to increase northern employment in

the public service and to identify opportunities for increased government

purchasing from northern companies.



The Centenary Fund will also provide more than $1 million for additional

improvements to Highway 955 from La Loche to the Clearwater River Dene

nation, to Highway 123 from the E.B. Campbell hydroelectric dam to

Cumberland House, and for 17 km of roads within Lac La Ronge Provincial

Park. Other projects in northern Saskatchewan will also benefit from a

significant investment from the Centenary Fund in 2001-02.



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For more information, contact:



Graham Guest

Northern Affairs

La Ronge

Phone: (306) 425-4563

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