Northern development agency to get $10M budget: Aglukkaq

The federal government is backing up its promise to establish a northern development agency by giving it a budget of $10 million a year, Nunavut MP Leona Aglukkaq said.

In a statement sent late Friday, Aglukkaq, who is also the federal health minister, said northerners "can also expect to see tens of millions [of dollars] more for other strategic investments in economic development."

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said he'll set up a stand-alone regional economic development agency for Canada's North, similar to those that exist in the western provinces, northern Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada.

First promised by Harper during last fall's election campaign, the northern development agency was also mentioned in the November throne speech.

Aglukkaq said the development agency, which will be established under the leadership of Indian and Northern Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl, will "consolidate existing northern development activities into one."

But other details about the agency, such as when its budget funding will be available, where the agency will be located, and when it will open, were not available Friday.

Aglukkaq was in Vancouver on Friday to consult with the public on the federal budget, which will be released next week.