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For Immediate Release
November 8, 2001

News Release

Ontario Invests in Aboriginal Infrastructure

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FORT FRANCES – Ontario's Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Native Affairs, David Young, today announced funding of $300,000 to the Couchiching First Nation. The award, under the Ontario Native Community Infrastructure Projects, an initiative of Ontario's Aboriginal Community Capital Grants Program, will go toward building a new community centre.

"The construction of the community centre will build on recent improvements at the Couchiching First Nation and provide a focal point in the community for civic, social, cultural and educational activities," said Young.

Community centres provide a focus in Aboriginal communities to deliver essential services and activities. The Aboriginal Community Capital Grants Program is part of a coordinated framework of more than 35 government programs and services developed under the Building Aboriginal Economies strategy. The strategy was announced by the Harris government in 1998 to take steps to strengthen self-reliance in Aboriginal communities.

"Through SuperBuild, the government's $300,000 investment toward building a new community centre expands Couchiching's ability to deliver important community services," said Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance and Minister Responsible for SuperBuild.

Couchiching First Nation is located close to Fort Frances in northwestern Ontario. The new community centre will be located on the reserve.

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Flavia Mussio
Ontario Native Affairs Secretariat
416-326-4778