KRG: More than $3 Million over Five Years to Support Development in Nunavik

Kuujjuaq, October 6, 2017 – Under the new Fonds d’appui au rayonnement des régions (support fund for regional vibrancy, FARR), close to $300,000 will be available this year to support development projects in Nunavik. This resource envelope will gradually grow to close to $1 million annually by 2021–2022. In total, close to $3 million over five years will be invested in regional development through the FARR.

The Minister of Forests, Wildlife and Parks and Minister responsible for the Abitibi–Témiscamingue Region and the Nord-du-Québec Region, Luc Blanchette, made the announcement along with the MNA for Ungava, Jean Boucher.

The FARR promotes the implementation of projects generating spinoffs in multiple northern villages. Selected and prioritized by the Kativik Regional Government (KRG), these projects will be responsive to the distinct characteristics of Nunavik.

Quotations:

“The Québec government is creating novel tools to stimulate economic development in the regions. In addition to the FARR, the new strategy to promote occupancy and vitality of the regions will ensure that regional priorities steer the policies of government departments and agencies. This innovative approach follows up on our goal to decentralize powers towards the municipalities.”

Martin Coiteux, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Land Occupancy, Minister of Public Security, and Minister responsible for the Montreal Region

“This new fund will enable the Kativik Regional Government to put forward strategic projects with significant spinoffs for all of Nunavik. Under the FARR, our government will invest, on a recurrent basis, considerable funding for the development of the regions.”

Luc Blanchette, Minister of Forests, Wildlife and Parks and Minister responsible for the Abitibi–Témiscamingue Region and the Nord-du-Québec Region.

“This approach is original. It will permit greater targeting of specific regional issues. The FARR will therefore make it possible to carry out a large number of these projects and to adapt them to the realities of those living in our vast region.”

Jean Boucher, MNA for Ungava and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Forests, Wildlife and Parks

“On behalf of the KRG Executive Committee, I welcome this announcement by the Québec government. This new funding program will provide support for regional development in Nunavik and permit the implementation of projects in several fields of activity. Elders, cultural activities and other sectors of the regional economy are some good examples. We are looking forward to putting in place some very exciting projects over the five years of the program.”

Jennifer Munick, Chairperson of the Kativik Regional Government

Highlights:

• Under the FARR, the whole of the Nord-du-Québec Region will receive $849,187 for the financial year 2017–2018. This level of funding will gradually grow to $3 million in 2021–2022. By the end of the program, close to $9 million will have been invested in economic development in the Nord-du-Québec Region.
• The FARR follows up on Bill 122, An Act Mainly to Recognize that Municipalities Are Local Governments and to Increase Their Autonomy and Powers, tabled on December 6 last year. The Act was adopted on June 15, 2017, and assented to on June 16, 2017.
• The FARR covers all the regions of Québec, except for the regions of the Capitale-Nationale and Montreal where other funds are planned. It will be administered by the Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l’Occupation du territoire (municipal affairs and land occupancy, MAMOT).
• The KRG will be responsible for selecting the projects to be implemented in accordance with the major development issues identified for the region.

Links:

To learn more about the FARR, visit: http://www.mamot.gouv.qc.ca/developpement-territorial/programmes/fonds-dappui-au-rayonnement-des-regions-farr/ (in French)

To learn more about MAMOT activities, follow us on social media:

https://www.facebook.com/AffairesMunicipalesOccupationTerritoire/ (in French)
https://twitter.com/MAMOTQC (in French)

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Marie-Ève Pelletier
Director of Communications
and Press Attaché
Office of the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Land Occupancy, Minister of Public Security, and Minister responsible for the Montreal Region
418-691-2050

Gabrielle Fallu
Press Attaché
Office of the Minister of Forests, Wildlife and Parks and Minister responsible for the Abitibi–Témiscamingue Region and the Nord-du-Québec Region
418-643-7295

Frédérique Brais-Chaput
Political Attaché
MNA for Ungava
418-748-6046
Information:

Pierre-Luc Lévesque
Media Liaison Officer
Communications Branch for the Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l’Occupation du territoire and the Ministère de la Sécurité publique
418-691-2015, ext. 3746

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