Harper Government invests in Yukon small business development - Partnering for Success encourages collaboration between local businesses and public sector

WHITEHORSE,YT, Oct. 31, 2013 /CNW/ - The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of the Environment, Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor), and Minister for the Arctic Council, today announced funding that will strengthen Yukon businesses and foster a sustainable and diversified Yukon economy.

"Our Government is proud to contribute to projects that support strong, sustainable and prosperous northern communities," said Minister Aglukkaq. "This investment will help grow existing businesses and foster emerging business opportunities for new entrepreneurs."

"The Government of Canada is proud to work with our partners to support the growth of small and medium enterprises in Canada's North," said Yukon Member of Parliament Ryan Leef. "The Partnering for Success initiative provides local Yukon businesses with tools to diversify and expand their businesses so they can continue to grow and prosper."

"The economic future of Yukon is based to a large degree on the development and expansion of the private sector," said Rick Karp, President of the Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce, "Partnering for Success brings the business community together with governments at all levels, as a conduit for action to strengthen and grow Yukon's economy." The Chamber, and indeed the business community who benefit from this program, are very grateful to CanNor for their support."

CanNor's investment of $100,000 will support the Partnering for Success initiative led by the Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce (WCC), which has been ongoing since 2006. This year, the Partnering for Success initiative will focus on three priority areas.

1)	Developing and implementing a 'Women in Business' Network. This will help to increase participation by women in the private sector;
2)	Creating an Aboriginal Business Development framework to support First Nations in business. Outreach, engagement, and support for developing a framework will advance business and employment opportunities for Yukon First Nations; and,
3)	Continuing to support other Partnering initiatives such as the Yukon Labour Market Strategy.

Partnering for Success is an ongoing initiative of the WCC that provides the business sector in Yukon opportunities to interact with and advise the public sector about how to strengthen and sustain Yukon's growing economy.

CanNor investment in this project is made possible through its Partnership and Advisory Forum fund of the Strategic Investments in Northern Economic Development (SINED) program. The Partnership and Advisory Forums support increased dialogue on northern economic development issues and help to increase capacity in delivering projects in the North. CanNor works to help develop a diversified, sustainable and dynamic economy across Canada's three territories, and delivers on its northern mandate through funding programs, the Northern Projects Management Office and by undertaking policy and research.

For more information about CanNor, visit cannor.gc.ca

For more information on Canada's Northern Strategy, visit: northernstrategy.ca 

 

SOURCE: Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency

For further information:

Office of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq
Jennifer Kennedy
819-997-1441

Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency
Erin Macpherson
Communications Advisor
867-667-3849

Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce
Rick Karp
Executive Director
867-667-7545 [e-mail]