CanNor President Patrick Borbey and Penny Ballantyne, Secretary to Cabinet for the Government of the Northwest Territories signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between CanNor and the GNWT on June 27, 2013.
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories (July 5, 2013) – The Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT), confirming both parties' commitment to supporting responsible resource and infrastructure development to promote economic prosperity for the people and communities of the Northwest Territories (NWT).
Under this MOU, CanNor and the GNWT will work cooperatively to facilitate the effective and transparent environmental assessment and regulatory process of resource development and regional infrastructure projects in the NWT. CanNor, through its Northern Projects Management Office (NPMO), and the GNWT will also work to align their respective efforts to foster positive economic outcomes for the people and communities of the NWT.
"CanNor is pleased to be working in partnership with the GNWT," said Patrick Borbey, President of CanNor. "This MOU highlights a commitment between our organizations to work together to advance positive socio-economic outcomes for the people of NWT related to major projects moving forward in the territory."
"This is an exciting time for the Northwest Territories, and we are pleased to confirm our partnership with CanNor," said Penny Ballantyne, Secretary to Cabinet. "We both have much to gain from supporting responsible resource and regional infrastructure, effective and transparent environmental assessment/impact review, and economic development for NWT communities. This partnership approach will be especially important as we plan to take on responsibility for managing public lands and resources on April 1, 2014."
The NWT is rich in natural resources and has an increasing number of projects going through the environmental assessment process. Both governments are working together to prepare communities to take advantage of the benefits of these major projects, such as jobs and long-term economic growth.
NPMO, as part of CanNor, has a mandate to improve the timeliness, predictability and transparency of regulatory processes in the North to help create a more stable and attractive investment climate in the territories.
CanNor works with northern communities to prepare them to participate in and benefit from major projects and northern resource development through community planning, including by identifying training, employment, and business opportunities.
CanNor fosters northern economic development through funding programs, providing project management services, leveraging the federal role in the North, serving as a champion for northern interests, and undertaking policy and research.
Memorandum of Understanding between CanNor and the Department of Executive, Government of the Northwest Territories
Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency
Christina Gray
Communications Advisor
867-766-8435
Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT)
Megan Holsapple
Corporate Communications, Department of Executive
867-873-7868
