Backgrounder - Northwest Territories' Community Wildland Fire Protection

The Government of Canada has approved $1.2 million in funding to support forest management activities that will reduce the incidence of high-intensity wildfires in and around fourteen NWT communities. The community-based projects will create immediate employment, build local skills and capacity, and increase the safety of individuals, resources and infrastructure in fire prone areas.

Work on the projects will involve labour-intensive fuel reduction (e.g. brush cutting and tree removal), employing approximately 100 individuals until March 31, 2010. All of the projects will use local labour and supervision, enhancing community capacity, while building skills and experience. Long-term economic and ecological benefits will stem from reduced fire-risk to valuable forest resources and community infrastructure. Additional benefits include improved safety and a winter wood supply for the communities.

Fourteen NWT communities will participate in the projects, including Fort Smith, Fort Resolution, Kakisa, Fort Providence, Nahanni Butte, Fort Liard, Trout Lake, Fort Simpson, Gameti, Dettah, Whati, Tsiigehtchic, Wrigley, and Jean Marie River.

Total project costs are estimated at $1,283,600, of which $1,243,600 will be provided by the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor). The Government of the Northwest Territories' Department of Energy and Natural Resources, Forest Management Division (ENR-FMD) will provide $40,000 to support the communities' capacity for implementation, including the development of four Community Wildland Fire Protection Plans.

This initiative complements existing Natural Resources Canada's “FireSmart” program agreements and builds on current relationships between the ENR, local First Nations and community governments.

Community Adjustment Fund (CAF)

Federal investment in this initiative is being provided through CanNor's Community Adjust Fund (CAF). Canada's Economic Action Plan  provides $1 billion nationally over two years for the CAF to help create and maintain employment in communities affected by the global recession. Longer-term economic and environmental benefits are also considered. The CAF provides $32.8 million for the three territories until 2011.

The CAF is one of a suite of programs administered by the newly established Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor). CanNor is responsible for coordinating and delivering federal economic development activities in the territories, and for policy, research and advocacy. This announcement reinforces the Government of Canada's work to advance an integrated Northern Strategy to exercise Canada's Arctic sovereignty, protect the North's environmental heritage, promote social and economic development, and improve and devolve northern governance.