Salt River First Nation said Monday the federal government has committed near $17 million to its long-planned subdivision project.
The 39-home development will increase the size of the reserve, according to a news release.
The funding will go towards the construction of the water and sewer infrastructure required to serve members and businesses. The development will take place within the Fort Smith municipal boundaries.
SA国际影视传媒淚t takes a lot of work and a collaborative effort to develop a project like this and secure the funding for it,SA国际影视传媒� SRFN chief David Poitras said. SA国际影视传媒淪alt River First Nation has had a great team working towards this day for many years. I thank them all.SA国际影视传媒�
Poitras also thanked Dene Nation national chief Norman Yakeleya, Fort Smith Mayor Lynn Napier, NWT Premier Caroline Cochrane and MP Michael McLeod, who said in his own press release that heSA国际影视传媒檚 SA国际影视传媒渢hrilledSA国际影视传媒� with the outcome.
SA国际影视传媒淚 have been working with Chief David Poitras on this submission for many months,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚 believe this project presents a significant opportunity for Salt River First Nation to provide much needed services to its members.SA国际影视传媒�
The project will take two years to complete, creating $22.9 million in economic output including around $6 million in wages for the 77 jobs it will support SA国际影视传媒渋n the NWT alone,SA国际影视传媒� according to SRFN.
Once the infrastructure is in place, SRFN expects the subdivision to attract about $20 million in investment and create about $23.6 million in additional economic activity, including another 42 jobs during the home construction period.
A treaty settlement agreement between Canada and the SRFN signed in 2002 based on their 1899 treaty provided for 166 square miles of primarily undeveloped lands at 16 sites in and around Fort Smith to be transferred to SRFN. The agreement SA国际影视传媒渁nticipatedSA国际影视传媒� that once the reserves were proclaimed, financial support would flow from the federal government in order to develop those plots.
SA国际影视传媒淓ighteen years later, we are all grateful that our First Nation is now able to move forward with this project that will benefit our members and the larger community,SA国际影视传媒� SRFN chief negotiator Ken Laviolette said in the SRFN announcement.
