Construction is set to start on new homes in Conklin and Janvier.

Cenovus is providing $50 million over the next five years to help build homes in First Nation and Mtis communities near their Christina Lake and Foster Creek projects.

This includes Janvier and Conklin as well as Cold Lake and Lac La Biche.

The Conklin Mtis and Chard Mtis have recently secured land from the RMWB for the project at a nominal fee.

The Chipewyan Prairie First Nation in Janvier, which is one of the six communities included in the project, is reportedly planning to start the initiative in 2021.

Now that land has been bought for the two Mtis communities, work is set to begin on constructing the homes and preparing the land for the buildings.

So far, crews have already started making ‘ready-to-move homes’ for First Nations around Conklin and Lac La Biche.

Cenovus expects that roughly 200 homes will be built over the five-years. There’s also a possibility the initiative is expanded to 10 years.