A group of northern Manitoba communities that includes Flin Flon has signed a memorandum of understanding supporting regional economic development.
Representatives of the 17-member Northern Delegation signed the document at a meeting in Opaskwayak Cree Nation last Friday, Oct. 21.
“Northern Manitoba is reeling from a series of economic setbacks over the past few months, making it extremely important that we work together to diversify the regional economy and build on our existing strengths while creating new employment opportunities,” delegation co-chair Christian Sinclair said in a news release.
The Northern Delegation was formed in July after OmniTrax announced it would close the Port of Churchill.
The delegation’s members include northern towns and cities as well as First Nations and Northern Affairs communities along the OmniTrax-owned Hudson Bay Railway line. The Kivalliq Inuit Association also recently joined.
The economic outlook in northern Manitoba has worsened since word of the Port of Churchill closure, particularly in The Pas and neighbouring Opaskwayak Cree Nation.
Forestry giant Tolko announced in August it would close its paper mill in
The Pas on Dec. 2, though an American-based company is now interested in taking over the operations.
The First Nations-owned Aseneskak Casino has announced it wants to relocate to Winnipeg in two years, but the provincial government has rejected that idea at this stage.
– With files from the Thompson Citizen
