MANITOUWADGE, Ont. — The federal and Ontario governments announced more than $12.7 million in funding on Wednesday for infrastructure improvements in several Northwestern Ontario towns and First Nations.
Thunder Bay-Superior North MP Patty Hajdu represented the federal government and Dave Smith, parliamentary assistant to Northern Development Minister Greg Rickford, represented the province at the announcement in Manitouwadge.
The Township of Manitouwadge will receive over $3 million toward the rehabilitation of its airport runway, apron and taxiway.
Mayor John MacEachern welcomed the funding, saying the airport is an essential link for vital services in the remote community.
Red Lake will get about $4.5 million to rehabilitate roads and sidewalks.
Kiashke Zaaging Anishinaabek (Gull Bay First Nation) roads will be improved with over $3 million in funding.
Two million dollars will also be spent improving a major road at Biigtigong Nishnaabeg (Ojibways of the Pic River First Nation).
In addition, the governments announced money for road improvements at Terrace Bay, Pickle Lake and Naotkamegwanning First Nation.
FedNor approves funding for young entrepreneurs
In a separate announcement on Wednesday, the federal government said its FedNor program will provide nearly $900,000 to support youth initiatives and young entrepreneurs in the Thunder Bay-Superior North and Thunder Bay-Rainy River ridings.
Lakehead University gets $465,000 to establish a student entrepreneurship hub and related programs over three years.
The Northwestern Ontario Innovation Centre receives $366,000 for its three-year Youth Effect project, which provides young people with a 15-week experiential learning and training placement with an innovative business.
The Northern Policy Institute was awarded about $32,000 to hire a youth intern to track immigration in the region.
A similar amount was given to the Group of Seven Trail Association to hire a youth intern to help increase tourism for the trail system.
The trail will connect some of the painting sites of the Group of Seven from Pukaskwa National Park to Neys Provincial Park.
