Valerie G. Barnes Connell Jordan
Northern Advocate
Secretary of State for Rural Development, Buckley Belanger, MP for Desnethé Missinippi Churchill River, was joined by the federal minister of Housing and Infrastructure, Gregor Robertson, and, Eric Schmalz, the Provincial Minister of Government Relations and Minister Responsible First Nations Métis and Northern Affairs, in the Northern Village of Air Ronge Oct. 17 to announce $69.5 million in funding.
“We are investing in Saskatchewan directly for infrastructure and this is a stable index source of funding that helps local governments make those really important in the things that communities need such as roads and bridges public transit,” Robertson said.
Belanger was also in Beauval on Oct. 17 to announce the Government of Canada’s “commitment to advancing clean, reliable and affordable energy solutions while supporting Canada’s clean energy future,” quoted from a Government of Canada news release.
Belanger announced a $1.9 Million investment for the “development of a state-of-the-art smart microgrid serving the communities of La Plonge and Poplar House District in northern Saskatchewan,” also quoted from the news release.
The project, described as “innovative,” is a project of Des Nedhe Group and Exteopic Energy and “will integrate solar power and battery storage to improve energy resilience, support grid stability and increase renewable energy generation in these communities.”
English River Denesuline First Nation owns the project through the Des Nedhe group, according to the news release.
The Des Nedhe Development Corporation was established by English River First Nation in 1991.
“Now, driven by our purpose rooted in our character and led by a team of expert, Des Nedhe Group has grown into a national leader in Indigenous entrepreneurship and economic development,” quoted from English River First Nation’s website.
Belanger was also on the Lac La Ronge Indian Band (LLRIB) territory to announce an $800,000 investment by the federal government for a revitalization project for the LLRIB Kitsaki Hall.
