Yellowknife - Home to Canada's New Northern Project Management Office (NPMO)

CanNor-09-005

Yellowknife, NWT (September 11, 2009) - The Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, today announced that the Northern Project Management Office (NPMO) will be centred in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.

“The new Northern Project Management Office will have direct responsibility for coordinating northern projects and will offer a single point of contact for clients. With a central office in Yellowknife, it will be well positioned to coordinate major natural resource projects across the North,” said Minister Strahl, who is also Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Metis and Non-Status Indians. “The NPMO will make a positive difference in how business is conducted in the North.”

As part of the new Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor), the NPMO will coordinate the work of federal departments involved in natural resource development projects in the three territories. NPMO offices in each of the three territories will coordinate region-specific projects and federal consultation efforts.

The NPMO will work with other federal departments and agencies to develop project agreements, help ensure Aboriginal people and communities are part of the process, provide information on the status of projects to the public, and help ensure that environmental assessments and permits proceed smoothly on Northern projects. Canada's Economic Action Plan   provides $50 million over five years towards the creation of the new Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor). CanNor is responsible for coordinating and delivering federal economic development activities at the regional level in the North, and for policy, research and advocacy.

Today's announcement supports the Government's integrated Northern Strategy that focuses on exercising Canada's Arctic sovereignty, protecting the North's environmental heritage, promoting social and economic development, and improving and devolving northern governance.

Backgrounder - Northern Project Management Office

For further information, please contact:

Office of the Honourable Chuck Strahl
Press Secretary
819-997-0002

Petra White
Communications Advisor
Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor), NT Region
(867) 669-2580