Canada to invest in infrastructure projects in Lennox Island First Nation communities

The announcement was made by Robert J. Morrissey, Member of Parliament for Egmont, on behalf of the Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs.

These investments will support bridge repairs, comprehensive community planning, development of housing capacity, housing renovations and an assessment of the condition of a school building.

In addition, an investment of additional $6 million was made by Government of Canada to support comprehensive community planning in 75 First Nation communities.

Comprehensive Community Planning is a mechanism for First Nations-led community engagement to promote strong, healthier and more sustainable communities as well as capacity building and long term priority-setting.

“The Lennox Island Band Council is pleased to be able to address our many needs as it relates to infrastructure. Our role in the success has been our planning, we have a capital plan …We were also able to address other items in our capital plan: road repair, housing repairs, capacity development and school repairs. We still have much to do to continue to tackle our capital plan items," Matilda Ramjattan, Lennox Island First Nation Chief, was quoted as saying by nationtalk.ca news reports.

"I am happy the community of Lennox Island has received this funding to further develop and maintain infrastructure … because we recognize that it is an important step towards a renewed nation-to-nation relationship with First Nations," said Robert J. Morrissey, Member of Parliament.

(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)