The Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor) is investing $253,000 in 2010-2011 to support continued activities to attract French-speaking tourists, residents and investors to the Northwest Territories. The Conseil de développement économique des Territoires du Nord-Ouest (CDETNO) will use the funds to:
- Attract new residents to the territory with a recruitment campaign in Quebec and New Brunswick that targets French speaking graduates, professionals, retirees and immigrants, as well as specific industry workers. CDETNO will actively recruit at job fairs, develop business services for new immigrants, and deliver workshops for employers on recruitment and retention.
- Attract new investment to the region by hiring a coordinator to foster partnerships with the NWT Chamber of Commerce and aboriginal organizations, and to develop a business support structure and marketing plan.
- Increase tourism opportunities and services by continuing its work with the Government of the Northwest Territories, northern French communities, and other NWT organizations. This will include marketing packages targeting business travellers, visitors, and potential tourists and a mini-tourism Information Centre in Old Town. CDETNO will also continue to work with French economic development organizations in northern Alberta and Yukon to promote the NWT at tourism tradeshows in Quebec, Ottawa, and Paris, France.
- Diversify the local economy by working with the Arctic Energy Alliance of the NWT to develop and promote a green-energy policy and to encourage businesses and organizations to get more involved in knowledge-based economies including research and new technologies.
This investment is made possible through CanNor’s Strategic Investments in Northern Economic Development (SINED) program, which focuses on long-term economic growth, economic diversification and capacity building in all three territories.
SINED is one of several economic development programs within CanNor, which is responsible for coordinating and delivering Canada’s economic development across the North, and for related policy development, research and advocacy.
