Northern Action Plan to guide social, economic development

In a re-organization of duties in the provincial government, Toby Greschner will head the Northern Action Plan. Greschner spent several years as assistant deputy minister for the Northern Affairs branch of Ministry of First Nations and Métis Relations. Bobby Woods, former mayor of Buffalo Narrows; Bruce Fiddler, mayor of Creighton and chair of the New North board; Louis Gardiner, of Ile-a-la- Crosse; Lennard Morin, of Cumberland House; Chief Eric Sylvester, representing the Meadow Lake Tribal Council; and Chief Tammy Cook-Searson, from the Lac La Ronge Indian Band make up the Northern Leaders Table which will guide the Northern Action Plan. The plan will address high suicide rates, high crime and victimization, high levels of addictions, high unemployment, poor and overcrowded housing, limited community and leadership capacity, limited government capacity and limited business development.