STRATEGIES TO ENHANCE MÉTIS ENTREPRENEURSHIP & BUSINESS

Presentation to the Métis National Council-Industry Roundtable March 21-22, 2013

Allan Clarke, Director General, Policy & Coordination Branch

Lands & Economic Development Sector

Jobs and economic growth are fundamental to improving the lives of Aboriginal Canadians and contributing to Canada’s long-term prosperity. Launched in 2009, the Framework is a modern, federal approach to promoting Aboriginal economic development that, first and foremost, recognizes that Government can help create the right conditions, but it cannot do it all and it cannot do it alone. The Framework is about working with willing partners to focus our efforts on real opportunities and positive results; tailoring our efforts to specific situations and needs; and adapting to new and changing conditions as they arise.

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FEDERAL FRAMEWORK FOR ABORIGINAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Framework Strategic Priorities:

Strengthening Aboriginal Entrepreneurship | Developing Aboriginal Human Capital

Enhancing the Value of Aboriginal Assets | Forging New and Effective Partnerships

Focusing the Role of the Federal Government

SHARED OBJECTIVES & GUIDING PRINCIPLES Federal government and the Métis National Council shared objectives:

Strengthening relations between Canada and the Métis Nation; Engaging in multilateral and collaborative approaches to foster partnerships and leverage resources strategically with the Provinces and the private sector; Creating the conditions to accelerate economic development opportunities; and,

A focus on furthering the capacity of Métis economic development institutions.

Guided by the following principles: Improving the effectiveness of federal economic development programs through various measures such as streamlining and administrative efficiencies; Maintaining transparency and accountability to governing authorities; Facilitating a whole-of-government federal approach to support Métis economic development; Fostering successful partnerships (institutions, federal government, provinces, municipalities, private sector, civil society organizations) focused on Métis economic development opportunities and needs; and Engaging in real market-driven economic opportunities with the potential to create jobs, stimulate business development and partnerships, and economic growth benefitting the Métis people.

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PRIORITIES & OUTCOMES Need to move the discussion towards the identification of specific priorities, such as: Business development; Participation in major economic and resource development projects; Labour force development; Strengthening the role of Métis institutions in advancing economic development; Partnerships.

And develop concrete strategies and activities that will: Increase business development; Enhance Métis participation in major economic and resource development projects; Strengthen Métis labour force development; and

Build institutional capacity.

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ABORIGINAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS PRIORITY The Government has undertaken a variety of initiatives in support of Aboriginal economic development, such as:

Contributing over $45M annually to support Aboriginal business development, Aboriginal participation in large scale resource and energy development projects, and Aboriginal access to capital for business development opportunities. Investing over $271 million since 2007 in support of 4,770 projects Increasing Aboriginal procurement. For example, the 2011 value of contracts with Aboriginal businesses was $799 million, representing a 74% increase over 2009.

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SUPPORTING MÉTIS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT The Métis context for economic development is unique and requires strategies and

program specific to the Métis context .

Government supports specifically for Métis economic development have included: Funding $96 million from 2000 to 2011 in support of over 3,000 business development-related projects. Since 20o0, the Saskatchewan Métis Economic Development Corporation (SMEDCO) has received over $4 million to assist with capitalization and marketing of their developmental loan fund. $3 million for the Métis Economic Development Organization, MEDO, of Manitoba to establish a major resource and energy development investment fund.

In addition the Communities Opportunities Branch created a pilot project to fund Métis Economic Development Officers for the:

Métis Nation of British Columbia; $150,000 – 2011/12, $150,000 – 2010/11 Métis Nation of Alberta; $150,000 – 2010/11 Métis Settlement General Council (AB); $150,000 – 2010/11 Manitoba Métis Federation; $150,000 – 2010/11 and $150,000 – 2009/10 Métis Nation of Ontario; $150,000 – 2010/11 and $133,400 - 2009/10

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MOVING FORWARD TOWARD CONCRETE ACTION This roundtable and its accompanying regional economic development sessions build off of these types of investments and are part of the process for developing long-term strategies in support of Métis economic development. For example, one of AANDC’s responses to the Budget 2012 commitment to eliminate deficits in the medium term was to partner with Aboriginal Financial Institutions (AFIs) to find alternative ways to deliver programs. This collaboration resulted in the establishment of the Program Delivery Partnership (PDP) Initiative. By March 31 there will be 14 PDPs providing national coverage including three Métis PDPs:

Manitoba: The Louis Riel Capital Corporation (LRCC) Saskatchewan: Saskatchewan Métis Economic Development Corporation (SMEDCO) Alberta: Apeetogosan Métis Development Corporation (AMDC)

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MOVING FROM ACCORD TO ACTION

The Métis Nation Protocol committed the federal government and the Métis Nation to establish an accord on economic development.

Need to ensure that this accord is not simply an aspirational document – instead that it focuses on implementation through concrete action.

We are encouraged to see the Métis Economic Development Strategy 2013 taking steps to achieve concrete action by focusing on four pillars: 1.  Business Development 2.  Procurement 3.  Partnerships 4.  Human Capital

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