March 18, 2011 - A ribbon cutting ceremony was held today to celebrate the completion of the Ulukhaktok Simon Kataoyak Community Centre. The new centre will provide a gathering place for the people of Ulukhaktok that includes a youth centre and community hall for residents and visitors alike.

“This new facility will be an important gathering place for residents and visitors to the region,” said the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health and Regional Minister for the North, on behalf of the Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. “Modern public infrastructure will contribute to a stronger economy, a cleaner environment, and safer and more prosperous communities in the North. As part of its Northern Strategy, Canada is working closely with territorial governments to respond to local needs of northern communities.”

“The new community centre is a much needed piece of infrastructure that will provide new opportunities and bring the people of Ulukhaktok together in a space they can share,” said Robert C. McLeod, Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. “Investing in this type of community infrastructure supports the building of stronger, sustainable, vibrant communities, which is a key priority of our Government.”

Joint federal-territorial funding of up to $3.6 million toward this initiative comes from the Provincial-Territorial Base Fund which is part of the Building Canada plan. It is designed to help provinces and territories invest in core infrastructure priorities.

The Government of the Northwest Territories is working closely with the Government of Canada to ensure that infrastructure funds are spent on priorities throughout the territory. The Northwest Territories’ total federal allocation for initiatives under the Provincial-Territorial Base Fund agreement is $185.8 million, and has been fully committed towards 63 priority infrastructure initiatives worth over $310 million.

Canada and the Northwest Territories are working together to create jobs and boost the economy while making significant investments that will help communities improve their infrastructure. The Government of the Northwest Territories is working with the Northwest Territories Association of Communities to ensure that these infrastructure funds are delivered quickly and efficiently for priority initiatives throughout the territory. For more information about infrastructure projects in the Northwest Territories, please visit www.creatingjobs.gc.ca.

Across all of its funds, Infrastructure Canada has now committed over $10.75 billion dollars toward more than 6,300 infrastructure projects as part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan. When combined with the contributions of our funding partners, there is approximately $31 billion dollars committed to infrastructure projects across the country.

To learn more about Canada’s Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca

Contacts:

Dane Mason
Senior Policy Analyst
Department of Municipal and Community Affairs
Government of the Northwest Territories
867-873-7300

John Babcock
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Chuck Strahl
Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
613-991-0700

Infrastructure Canada
613-948-1148
OR Toll-free
1-877-250-7154