The Honorable Leona Aglukkaq, minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor), has announced funding for two projects that will enable citizens of the Ross River Dena Council (RRDC) First Nation to take advantage of economic opportunities related to clean energy development.
The funding aims to enable the RRDC to develop a socioeconomic partnership agreement with Selwyn Chihong Ltd. that allows the Dena Nezziddi Development Corp. (DNDC) to create a clean energy inventory and assess commercial opportunities to develop run-of-the-river hydro and wind energy facilities throughout Ross River Dena Council's traditional territory.
‘These two projects will help Ross River Dena Council citizens to effectively participate in and benefit from sustainable economic development in their communities,’ Aglukkaq says. ‘We are ensuring that First Nations have the tools to negotiate with mining companies, and to assess new sources of renewable energy which are important to the development of future mining activities in Ross River Dena Council's traditional territory.’
These investments are made possible through CanNor's Strategic Investments in Northern Economic Development program and the Community Economic Opportunities Program. Both programs belong to a suite of economic development programs coordinated and delivered in the three territories by CanNor.
