The Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor) is investing $814,350 in four projects to improve connectivity and communications infrastructure in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon.
Improved connectivity will contribute to economic activity across the North, supporting small businesses, the resource sector and northern residents.
The projects include:
CanNor is investing $368,000 to support the development of a northern communications and connectivity strategic plan for Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut for use by all stakeholders involved in northern communications.
The pan-territorial project is being led by the Government of Yukon and the Northern Communications Information Services Working Group (NCIS WG). The NCIS WG prepared the comprehensive 2011 Arctic Communications Infrastructure Assessment (ACIA) report. Building on this report, this strategic plan will define options available to coordinate and facilitate a cooperative approach to northern connectivity including defining roles, possible programs, benefits and impacts.
CanNor is supporting the K'asho Got'ine Development Corporation in the following areas:the design and implementation of wireless intranet for the band council; hardware, software and training for a web portal for the K'asho Got'ine community; and, IM/IT system application for the band and municipal offices.
CanNor is investing $47,350 in a study to examine the feasibility of the City of Yellowknife creating a municipally-owned corporation to improve and upgrade information and technology infrastructure by providing Yellowknife customers with fibre connectivity.
These three projects are made possible through CanNor's Strategic Investments in Northern Economic Development (SINED) Program. SINED is one of several economic development programs within CanNor.
CanNor is investing $279,000 in a two year plan to improve connectivity in the K'atlodeeche First Nation (KFN) that will allow the First Nation to install a fibre optic cable along the twelve kilometres from reserve lands and connect to NorthwesTel's existing fibre line. This new fibre optic cable will connect the community into Alberta's SuperNet line. A previous project laid an initial kilometre of fibre while training local installation technicians. This project will allow the community to open more serviced commercial and residential lots to development and provide both power and high speed internet service to existing homes and businesses.
The KFN broadband project is funded through the Community Economic Development Program (CEDP) which is part of the Aboriginal Economic Development (AED) suite of programs. CEDP provides project-based support to First Nation and Inuit communities for community economic development.
