Economic Infrastructure projects to support major new economic initiatives with significant benefit to Northerners.
Economic Infrastructure. Northern Saskatchewan is a very unique part of the province holding a variety economic, social, and geographical challenges. Because of Northern Saskatchewan remoteness and topography, large infrastructure projects are often more expensive and time consuming than in the southern half of the province. As a result, the northern half of the province, in terms of economic infrastructure, has remained well behind its southern counter-part due to a relatively low population, making it difficult to sustain community infrastructure costs, and marginal economic development to support core infrastructure such as water, sewer, road, electrical power and gas developments. Northern Saskatchewan’s rich natural resource base is conducive to support developments in key sectors such as forestry, mining and tourism. Increasingly, Northerners have expressed concerns over infrastructure inadequacies as one of the primary impediments to the development of the North. Further, the lack of basic core infrastructure is an obstacle to making northern Saskatchewan competitive in attracting greater primary and value-added industry development in these key sectors. More recently, community-based infrastructure has advanced in housing, water, sewer and transportation through north-specific programs and initiatives such as the Remote Housing Program, Northern Water and Sewer Assistance Program and community- level improvements. In addition to these initiatives, further programming and funding toward economic infrastructure is essential for creating an environment that is conducive to attracting a greater level of interest among the private sector in considering Northern Saskatchewan as a base for establishing resource-based developments, as well as secondary or value-added industries. Historically, each sector of the northern economy has addressed infrastructure requirements individually, on a project specific basis whereby infrastructure costs were the responsibility of the proponent. What Northerners have deemed to be essential regarding infrastructure is a common approach to improve their position in specific markets by attracting resource and business. This Agreement, through a partnership between Northerners and the provincial and federal governments, will attempt to improve access to key economic sectors through: • enhanced partnerships between government and industry; • improving access; • forming partnerships with local employers thereby increasing business development; • improv...
Economic Infrastructure i. Transport General transport; Assistance to improve outer island runways especially in key atolls with greatest tourism potential; Assistance to improve inter island shipping and air linkages; Development of alternative regional air routes; Port infrastructure – expansion (to accommodate a range of maritime vessels), upgrade, repair and build new wharf facilities (shipping and fishing); Upgrade international/domestic airports and terminal facilities; and Improve maritime transportation to minimize costs for doing business.
ii. Trade-Related Infrastructure Set up biosecurity treatment facilities (High Temperature Forced Air (HTFA) facility, fumigation and testing laboratory, X-ray machines, container treatment machines), processing facilities including freezer facilities and pack houses, with a view to supporting exports of FIC products; and Assistance to establish bonded warehouses (for fuel).
iii. Tourism Infrastructure Installation of rainwater tanks; and Improve basic infrastructure and services: roads, telecommunications, water, power and sewer so as to promote tourism.
iv. ICT Infrastructure and Systems Assistance to establish and support e-banking, for business process outsourcing, call centres and other forms of back up operations; TA to implement an ICT regime which devotes attention to e-trade (e-commerce) to minimise transaction costs; Assistance to the private sector to maximise utilisation of e-commerce; Telecommunication testing facilities, spectrum monitoring and management; Review of national telecommunications framework, improve service provision; Assistance to establish an independent regulator; Radio (HF/VHF) for disaster management; and TA to assist with the implementation of relevant legislation.
v. Other Infrastructure Waste management/Sanitation; and Solar energy and urban/rural water supply.
