A Northern Moment: Support for Indigenous economic development in Nunavut

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A Northern Moment
Investments supporting Indigenous economic development in Nunavut

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The Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency is investing in eight Indigenous economic development projects, which aim to improve growth and diversity across Nunavut.

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The Minister of Northern Affairs, Daniel Vandal, hosted a roundtable with key partners to discuss the investments of over $2 million, which aim to provide Nunavut businesses with the resources they need to continue to grow and recover from the impacts of the pandemic.

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Hon. Daniel Vandal
Minister of Northern Affairs

Minister Vandal: Through CanNor, our government has recently invested over $2 million to support eight different projects across Nunavut. Of course, CanNor—like our entire government—never works alone, it's through a strong partnership and collaboration with the government of Nunavut, municipalities, Inuit partners and Nunavut businesses that we work towards a shared goal of creating jobs.

While the focus of these investments is in the communities such as Cambridge Bay, Pond Inlet, Baker Lake and Iqaluit, all Nunavummiut will benefit to the support for regional economic development.

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David Akeeagok
Nunavut Minister of Economic Development and Transportation

Minister Akeeagok: It is my pleasure to participate in the virtual announcements that help support Nunavut Indigenous businesses, that enhance sustainable economic development activities that will generate income in the arts and craft, tourism, and other sectors in Nunavut, very much welcomed news indeed.

The funding will provide and promote the development of skills that will allow businesses in Nunavut to participate in the professional development activities throughout the job creation and training so they can acquire the appropriate skills they need to identify and support sustainable economic growth in our communities.

I would like to thank, take this, an opportunity to thank the Government of Nunavut, in particular CanNor, for their ongoing investment in Nunavut and very looking forward to having continued support throughout as our communities and our territories grows in terms of economic development and all the opportunities that are available.

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Bill Williams
Executive Director, Nunavut Economic Developers Association

Bill Williams: Thanks to the support of CanNor, as well as in conjunction with the Government of Nunavut's Economic Development and Transportation Department, we have been able to support the annual training conference ongoing now and we are very happy to see this year we were able to have a three-year agreement, which allows us to spend more time on delivering of those projects instead of applying for them, so we are very much appreciated the changing to these three-year agreements to allow us to do those projects and focus our time and efforts on those training conferences to build those skills and capacity of Nunavut EDOs.

Economic development funding and support for projects in our community is vital to have our communities take on some of the risk that small business can't. This includes infrastructure, as well as you know larger capacity building at community levels that businesses just don't have the risk appetite or the, maybe the capacity to deliver, so partnering with organizations like ourselves and other organizations is critical to delivering that on a territory wide.

We are you know a very large territory with a small population and we have to work together to succeed.

And we are excited to continue working with CanNor and the Government of Nunavut to supporting our communities and businesses through recovery and I think there is a huge opportunity in this recovery for infrastructure development in their communities that will not only support a better quality of life but our business is developing stronger and more vibrant. So thank you for having me here today.

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Frank Tootoo
Co-Owner General Manager, Peter's Expediting Limited

Frank Tootoo: The welding shop is the one that we are on the, I guess on the list for and that is still a work in progress and we are still working towards training local people. It may be expanded more broadly where we're also involved in drilling, we are also involved in welding, drilling, welding and mechanical type of work, mills type of things.

I think we'll be key components to allow people from Baker Lake in particular to be able to gain the skills needed to work at a mine site and be prepared to take on jobs that traditionally have not been I guess available for local workforce. They have been people from the south that need to do these specialized work, so we are trying to create a skilled workforce that can take those positions on.

We appreciate the input and the funding from CanNor to do these projects and I think we worked very well with the regional people, they have been, I guess very helpful and involved and supportive of our projects, which is great. So I thank you for that.

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Charlie Tatuaqjuk
Owner, Prime Auto Services

Charlie Tatuaqjuk: I am very new into the business world and Prime Auto Services is where I fall into this discussion today. The automotive repair and maintenance industry is providing essential service for clients with vehicles, small engines and what we have here in our community.

And it's pretty much the same everywhere else in every community when we're – essential equipment that we have like such as snowmobiles, ATVs and within locally our pickup trucks.

We rely heavily on such as these equipment to carry out our livelihoods, to go out on the land and hunt. And it's much like every community, we are very much tied into our land and how the technologies are ever growing and changing.

And some of the equipment that we have today when you have had men that our, men and women that are handy with making equipment on as best they can, new technology today it is a bit of a struggle and with that recognizing that it's a one of the things that Prime Auto Services is looking to provide is to fill in those gaps and how can we ensure that all the equipment that are vital to (inaudible, technical at source) means of hunting and putting food on the table is addressed.

And this is where Prime Auto Services is looking to update on technology and, as Frank mentioned, having centralized mechanics and equipment to ensure that they are up to snuff is what we need.

And obviously with the way things are going we very much have to rely on outside services to be properly trained. And my goal ultimately is to have specialized local mechanics that well be of service to our community.

Minister Vandal: All in all, this is a $2 million investment that is sure to lead to significant economic opportunities and benefits throughout Nunavut. And this is just one of the many investments CanNor is making to support businesses and economic recovery from the pandemic.

I want to thank everyone for taking the time to meet me this afternoon and I wish you nothing but the best in the future.

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