In 2008, the federal government announced the creation of a new stand-alone agency focused on northern economic development, a key deliverable under the government’s Northern Strategy. In 2009, Cannor was provided with $50 million over five years to “to help provide the foundation for a prosperous economic future for those who live, work and support their families in the North” (Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, n.d.).
As of June 2010, ICT Working Group began working towards defining and establishing a northern-focused ‘Digital Opportunities Strategy’ to assist in developing an Agency ICT policy and strategy. This strategy aims to: strengthen northern ICT tools; address the communications needs of the North within the federal context; facilitate the planning and delivery of communications technology and digital literacy among citizens in the north; allow market forces to function where and when possible; and acknowledge government’s role in ensuring northern residents possess the skills, knowledge and tools required for full participation in the global economy.
Part of this strategy involves identifying the communications infrastructure and capacity requirements needed for effective community and economic development. The lead-up to the strategy builds on several recent meetings, including the Northern Communications and Information Systems Working Group (NCIS WG). Members of this group include Government of Canada departments like AANDC (formerly Indian and Northern Affairs Canada) as well as representatives from Territorial governments.
The three territorial premiers published a report on May 14, 2010 that stated they “agreed that reliable connectivity to satellite transmission across the North is essential for the continued economic and social development of northern communities and they urged the federal government to continue to support that policy” (24, interview). The also noted the opportunities for significant partnerships between the territorial premiers and CanNor:
One area of focus is telecommunications. The premiers discussed the opportunity of identifying ways to enhance telecommunications to support services such as healthcare, justice and education and directed their governments to formalize a pan-territorial policy working group on telecommunications (Northern Premiers’ Forum, 2010, p. 2).
In 2011, Cannor funded a survey of northern government departments and service providers that identified existing communications capacities and infrastructure across the north and identified future needs. The report argues the importance of reliable communication infrastructure in the North of the country in order to protect Canada’s sovereignty, and to ensure safe passage of air, sea and road traffic through the region (Northern Communications & Information Systems Working Group, 2011).
In 2011, CanNor also provided funding to the K’atl’odeeche First Nation of the Northwest Territories “to build a local fibre-optic network, establish local ICT certification training, and research the potential to build a fibre-optic connection to southern Canada to access broadband services” (Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, 2011).
K’atl’odeechee First Nation (KFN) received support to expand their community networking project. KFN will receive $279,000 over two years to install twelve kilometers of fibre to connect their community network to NorthwestTel’s existing fibre network and link the network to Alberta’s SuperNet line. The high-speed network will provide homes and businesses in K’atl’odeechee First Nation with a faster and more powerful service and will support economic development and public services in the community.