Government of Canada Invests in Indigenous Economic Development across Western Canada

Forty-five First Nations, Indigenous businesses and programs to receive more than $27 million to expand their business activities and pursue new economic opportunities

VICTORIA, March 13, 2018 /CNW/ - Indigenous businesses and programs across the West will have support to grow their operations and create jobs in Indigenous communities thanks to new funding from the Government of Canada.

Today at the Songhees Nation, the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD), announced more than $27 million for 45 projects in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, through the Western Diversification Program (WDP). The announcement was made at the Songhees Innovation Centre, a co-working space that received funding through WDP to help Indigenous entrepreneurs thrive in Canada's growing tech sector.

The projects represent an array of economic activities, from rural First Nations installing solar equipment to generate power for their communities to post-secondary institutions launching programs to train the next generation of Indigenous workers. These investments will contribute to the prosperity of Indigenous communities across the Western provinces by making it easier for businesses to create jobs and capitalize on economic opportunities.

The funding announced today follows an investment of $2,250,000 to the Aboriginal Tourism Association of British Columbia, announced by the Honourable Bardish Chagger, Minister of Small Business and Tourism and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, on January 22, 2018. That investment was also made under WDP and is supporting over 400 Aboriginal cultural tourism businesses in B.C.

Following this event, Minister Bains will travel to Haida Gwaii to make an important high-speed Internet funding announcement on behalf of the Governments of Canada and British Columbia. This funding will benefit Canadians living in rural and remote communities.

Quotes

"The success of Indigenous businesses is essential to building a strong, innovative and inclusive Canadian economy. I am proud that the Government of Canada is investing in these 45 projects and supporting Indigenous communities across the West."
- The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, and Minister responsible for Western Economic Diversification Canada

"Songhees Nation is proud to host this announcement in recognition of the entrepreneurial spirit and economic contributions of Indigenous businesses across Canada, and we are grateful and inspired to be the recipient of funding that supports the ongoing success of Indigenous entrepreneurs at the Songhees Innovation Centre. Our Council saw the importance of an initiative like this taking shape in our building, and we are grateful to Animikii Indigenous Technology for seizing this opportunity and working with us to create this unique co-working space where they are now located. We are witnessing the emergence of a growing number of impassioned Indigenous graduates and business people for whom the co-working environment is a natural catalyst for launching and growing entrepreneur-driven enterprises. Today's announcement honours our entrepreneurs, our creatives, and our partners, South Island Prosperity Project, Victoria Foundation and Community Micro-lending who continue to collaborate with us to realize the goals of the Songhees Innovation Centre and the aspirations of Indigenous entrepreneurs."
- Chief Ron Sam, Songhees Nation

Backgrounder: Indigenous Economic Growth Announcement

A skilled and entrepreneurial workforce is critical to drive economic growth in Western Canada. The investments announced today are part of the Western Diversification Program (WDP), the main program through which WD makes strategic investments in initiatives that enhance and strengthen the economy of Western Canada.

Today's announcement is for 45 Indigenous Economic Growth projects across the four Western provinces:

Organization	Project Description	Location	Funding
C-FER Technologies (1999) Inc.	Develop and implement an Indigenous pipeline monitoring program	Edmonton, AB	$344,000
Norquest College	Develop and implement an Indigenous Pipeline Construction Worker Program	Edmonton, AB	$75,000
Oteenow Employment and Training Society	Deliver an office skills development and testing program to Indigenous people	Edmonton, AB	$474,375
Yellowhead Tribal Development Foundation	Develop an innovative database to manage skills, employment and traditional lands	Edmonton, AB	$554,500
Alberta Indian Investment Corporation	Increase the capacity of Alberta Indian Investments to generate Indigenous business growth	Enoch, AB	$230,950
Beaver First Nation	Purchase heavy equipment to expand First Nation business opportunities	High Level, AB	$1,106,669
Acden Operations Ltd.	Establish Indigenous beekeeping demonstration project	Fort McMurray, AB	$219,320
Pimee Well Servicing Ltd.	Purchase equipment to expand First Nation business opportunities	Kehewin, AB	$650,000
Neyaskweyak Group of Companies Inc.	Develop a solar park for sustainable energy for the Ermineskin Cree Nation	Maskwacis, AB	$700,500
Siksika Resource Developments Ltd.	Purchase heavy equipment to expand First Nation business opportunities	Siksika, AB	$759,000
Wabasca & Region Atoske Action Group Society	Deliver pre-healthcare career training to local Indigenous people in the Wabasca Region	Wabasca, AB	$450,000
Heiltsuk Economic Development Corporation	Support Indigenous business development in seafood processing sector	Bella Bella, BC	$855,000
Ktunaxa Nation Council Society	Support Indigenous business development in mining for the Ktunaxa Nation	Cranbrook, BC	$315,300
Stó:lo Community Futures Corporation	Deliver business training, acceleration, and incubation for Sto:lo Indigenous businesses	Chilliwack, BC	$142,500
Lower Kootenay Indian Band	Develop Yaqan Indigenous Agriculture Business	Creston, BC	$107,000
Nicola Valley Institute of Technology	Establish an Aboriginal Centre of Excellence in Sustainability in Merritt, BC	Merritt, BC	$786,000
Squamish Indian Band	Acquire equipment and upgrade the Squamish Nation Training and Trades Centre in BC	North Vancouver, BC	$1,044,385
Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation	Construct transmission system to support Indigenous clean energy infrastructure	Tofino, BC	$500,000
Emily Carr University of Art and Design	Support Indigenous training/business development in virtual/augmented reality technology	Vancouver, BC	$914,922
Songhees First Nation	Establish Songhees Innovation Centre for Indigenous businesses on Vancouver Island	Victoria, BC	$93,410
University of Victoria	Deliver the Aboriginal Canadian Entrepreneurship (ACE) Artists Pilot Program in BC	Victoria, BC	$567,000
First Nations Technology Council	Increase Indigenous access to digital skills training in BC	West Vancouver, BC	$3,028,155
Dandzen Development Limited Partnership	Develop the Tsilhqot'In Solar Farm in Chilcotin, BC	Williams Lake, BC	$1,000,000
Assiniboine Community College	Purchase and equip trailers for trade-related training in Indigenous communities	Brandon, MB	$150,000
Fisher River Economic Development Corporation	Install a solar farm in Fisher River Cree Nation	Koostatak, MB	$1,100,000
Atoskiwin Training and Employment Centre	Expand trades training at Atoskiwin Training and Employment Centre	Nelson House, MB	$387,615
Manitoba Food Charter Inc. (Food Matters Manitoba)	Establish a portable farming system in Norway House, Manitoba	Norway House, MB	$200,000
Norway House Pharmacy Ltd.	Purchase automated pharmaceutical equipment to expand business opportunities	Norway House, MB	$165,328
Aki Energy Incorporated	Install geothermal heating systems in 600 First Nation homes in Manitoba	Winnipeg, MB	$1,167,200
Broadband Communications North Inc.	Establish a centre to support upgrade and expansion of broadband access to First Nations	Winnipeg, MB	$937,600
Manitoba Construction Sector Council	Establish a blast hole drilling training program	Winnipeg, MB	$1,254,800
Fond du Lac First Nation Development Limited Partnership	Enhance Fond-du-Lac aviation and commercial access in Northern Saskatchewan	Fond du Lac, SK	$84,035
Mitacs Inc.	Support Indigenous communities by creating the Northern Saskatchewan Policy Unit	Ile-a-la-Crosse, SK	$596,348
Keewatin Career Development Corporation	Develop the Non-Timber Forest Product industry in Northern Saskatchewan	La Ronge, SK	$287,400
Flying Dust Market Garden, Ltd.	Support expansion of market garden storage and processing facilities	Meadow Lake, SK	$407,030
Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs Inc	Facilitate Indigenous employment through assessment, training and industry placement	North Battleford, SK	$250,000
First Alliance Energy Services	Strengthen First Nations business capacity in construction and energy service sectors	Saskatoon, SK	$180,000
Gabriel Dumont Institute Training and Employment Inc.	Create an entrepreneurship program to assist Métis clients in Saskatchewan	Saskatoon, SK	$1,161,424
Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada	Develop Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Alberta Indigenous tourism organizations	Saskatoon, SK	$220,000
Wanuskewin Heritage Park Authority	Support Wanuskewin Heritage Park expansion through the establishment of exhibit galleries	Saskatoon, SK	$550,026
Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan Inc.	Develop and deliver entrepreneurship curriculum for Indigenous women in Saskatchewan	Saskatoon, SK	$303,900
Cowessess First Nation	Expand and commercialize a hybrid renewable energy generation system	Regina, SK	$910,000
First Nations Power Authority of Saskatchewan Inc.	Enhance renewable energy partnerships and build capacity for First Nations	Regina, SK	$600,000
Pro Metal Industries Ltd.	Support Indigenous participation in metal manufacturing sector	Regina, SK	$1,000,000
Pro Metal Industries Ltd.	Advance commercialization of industrial C02e-reducing incineration technology	Regina, SK	$1,000,000
TOTAL PROJECT FUNDING			$27,830,692

Additional Links

• Indigenous communities in British Columbia to benefit from investment in cultural tourism

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SOURCE Western Economic Diversification Canada

Karl W. Sasseville, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, Telephone: [phone]; Media Relations, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, 343-291-1777, Email: [email protected]; Taylor Paxton, Communications Director, Western Economic Diversification Canada, Telephone: [phone], Email: [email protected]; Kathi Springer, Vice President Communications & Corporate Relations, Pace Group Communications, Phone: [phone], [email protected]