$1.4 million in funding has been given to the Conseil de Développement Économique du Territoire du Nord-Ouest by the Government of Canada over the course of the next four and a half years.
The funding, provided through the Enabling Fund for Official Language Minority Communities, aims to enhance the development and vitality of official language minority communities. These communities either consist of Francophones who reside outside of Quebec or English-speaking residents of Quebec.
François Afane, CDÉTNO Executive Director said that the funding will help the organization fulfill its mission to increase economic activity in the NWT French-speaking community.
“Securing funding for another 4.5 years from Employment and Social Development Canada will allow CDÉTNO to continue to support and strengthen the growth of the labour market with the goal of contributing to the economic development of the NWT.”
Michael McLeod, NWT MP stated that the fund supports the economic and human resource development of OLMCs through the activities of regional organizations and by engaging community leaders and encouraging partnerships.
“CDÉTNO’s partnership with the Government of Canada will help create inclusive growth here in the Northwest Territories. Our territory has a vibrant Franco-Ténois community that is served well by organizations like CDÉTNO.”
The funding is provided under the 2019-2023 agreement between CDÉTNO and the Government of Canada in which the organization is committed to:
- Develop strategic/economic/recruitment plans that will attract investment and new businesses into the NWT and help diversify and create meaningful partnerships
- Build on the results of the Federal/Provincial/Territorial Action Plan for Increasing Francophone Immigration Outside of Quebec
- Develop new tools for the Francophone tourism sector that will help attract more visitors and investors
- Develop a database that will help employers fill vacancies and find potential workers.
