Cameco, northern Sask. leaders building new partnerships in Ottawa

Watch above: Cameco and northern Saskatchewan leaders travel to Ottawa to meet with federal government officials in hopes of creating new partnerships and opportunity. Joel Senick reports.

OTTAWA – A group of northern Saskatchewan leaders and industry administrators say they’re hopeful that progress was made after two days of meetings with government officials in Ottawa this week. The trip served as an introduction of sorts, according to the group, as they pushed for federal support on education and infrastructure initiatives.

“It’s a good trip because we have met with different MPs and the government officials because we do have a lot of issue in the community,” said Chief Bart Tsannie of the Hatchet Lake Dene Nation.

The visit was organized by Saskatoon-based uranium producer Cameco and included members of communities it holds partnerships with.

READ MORE: Northern Sask. leaders look to build new relationships in Ottawa

“We thought at some time it would be good to go arm in arm really to Ottawa just to tell them what we do, how we’re working together, press them a little bit on a couple issues,” said Cameco CEO Tim Gitzel.

The group highlighted a number of specific projects it hopes to receive support for, including an early childhood education development study, a SaskTel application to extend broadband internet in the province and a study on alternative housing strategies in the region.

Partnerships between various industry and the northern communities they operate in may help the leaders achieve their goals. Two federal officials who spoke at the group highlighted the work Cameco has done with the north.

“Cameco and the First Nations and Métis communities of northern Saskatchewan I think have laid out a template for others to follow,” said Federal Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt.

“Partnerships lie at the core of this and as I said, Cameco and the First Nations communities do it better than anybody,” said Greg Rickford, federal minister of natural resources.

Camceo’s CEO said a similar, more localized trip, may take place in the near future.

“We’ve been asked to come now to Regina for the same thing,” said Gitzel.

“The premier, I was talking to him the other day and mentioning this trip and he said would you please come to Regina to do the same thing so we’ll plan that as soon as we can.”