Aboriginal forestry business gets boost from federal funding
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – Aboriginal-owned forest sector companies in B.C. and Alberta will soon enjoy technical support and business advice from Western Economic Diversification Canada.
Western diversification minister Michelle Rempel announced during a press conference at the Westbank First Nation corporate offices in West Kelowna that private company FP Innovations would receive $1.8 million to deliver educational workshops in aboriginal communities in the two provinces.
“This project will develop aboriginal businesses in the forestry sector, generating employment and increasing trade and investment in communities across British Columbia and Alberta,” Rempel said.
The program will be open to both new and existing aboriginal-owned companies.
Westbank First Nation councillor Mic Werstiuk praised the program and thanked Rempel for the opportunities the program opens up to aboriginal-owned companies.
A press release provided by the ministry says with about 75,000 people employed in B.C. and Alberta, about a third of the total number of people employed in the forestry sector are employed in the two provinces.
To contact the reporter for this story, email John McDonald at jmcdonald@infonews.ca or call 250-808-0143. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
3 responses
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Why should tax dollars go towards helping anyone – least of all a wealthy Indian Band – get into the highly lucrative forestry industry? Why can’t WFN go borrow money from a bank?
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Juliana Alexander You sounds like a Bolshevik Juliana. Nancy and I didn’t abuse any First Nations’ people in residential schools. Why do we have to pay the piper?
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We just keep giving and giving to them and they don’t pay taxes. When will it end? Where is all the money given to the bands? Harper tried to change all that but got gunned down.
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