2010-2011 Funding
CanNor Funding: $950,000
GNWT Funding: $68,000
Total Project Value: $1,018,000
The Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor) has approved new funding that will enable the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) to assist twelve communities in hiring 94 people to participate in 2010-2011 FireSmart program activities. Funds will be used for salaries, equipment rental, supplies, operational requirements, and local project management. The activities will create immediate local employment, build local labour skills and capacity, increase community safety, and protect forest resources.
Program participants will help prevent high-intensity wildland fires from destroying valuable forest resources and threatening the safety of people and infrastructure by modifying and removing volatile forest fuels around their communities. Activities include brush and tree pruning, thinning, spacing, mulching, and complete removal of forest vegetation. In addition, eight communities will develop long-term wildland fire prevention plans. All of the projects will use local labour and supervision, enhancing community capacity while building skills and experience.
Twelve NWT communities will participate in the projects, including Fort Smith, Fort Resolution, Enterprise, Fort Providence, Fort Liard, Wrigley, Jean Marie River, Trout Lake, Fort Simpson, Fort Good Hope, Norman Wells and Tulita. Some of the communities will continue their participation from last year while others are new to the program. In 2009, CanNor invested $1.2 million to support the participation of 14 NWT communities in FireSmart activities.
This initiative complements existing NRCan “FireSmart” program agreements and builds on current relationships between the GNWT, local First Nations and community governments.
