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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - June 2010
SaskPower enters into agreement with three First Nations to proceed with feasibility studies Canada’s Economic Action Plan invests in Hiawatha First Nation and creates jobs Cape Breton First Nation communities partner with Emera Utility Services to meet the need for skilled workers Local First Nation communities are partnering with EMERA Utility Services (EUS) to help meet the need for skilled workers. Emera Utility Services, a subsidiary of Emera Inc., is the largest utility services contractor in Atlantic Canada. Emera established this partnership with the Unama’ki Economic Benefits Office, an economic development organization established by the five First Nation Communities in Cape Breton. The Economic Benefits Office will recruit and train local Aboriginals and Emera has committed to hiring at least five of those that successfully complete the training,” said Owen Fitzgerald, Executive Director of the Unama’ki Economic Benefits Office. “This is the start of another very important partnership that has long-term implications. Working with industry, understanding their needs and working to address these needs, is the key to our success,” said Fitzgerald. “This collaborative and business like approach to economic development has resulted in dozens of jobs and tens of millions of dollars in contracts for local Mi’kmaq. Our office is focused on identifying new economic opportunities, training local Aboriginals and through partnerships with industry, creating jobs for local Mi’kmaq. In this case, Emera actually heard about our success and approach us, asking if they could also establish a partnership that would be a win-win for both,” said Fitzgerald. “After several months of planning, EMERA Utility Services and the Economic Benefits Office, with the help of the Nova Scotia Community College, Marconi Campus, have established a unique training plan to ensure EMERA Utility Services gets skilled workers and local Aboriginals get jobs,” said Alex Paul, Director with the Unama’ki Economic Benefits Office. This training is under the Unama’ki Aboriginal Skills Employment Partnership Program (ASEP) that is managed by the Unama’ki Economic Benefits Office in Membertou. Recently, a group of 10 Aboriginals from Cape Breton visited an Emera Utility Services training facility in Truro, NS, to learn more about the opportunity. “The visit provided the group with an opportunity to experience first-hand the skills that they would learn in the program,” said Mr. Paul. “Attendees climbed poles, had a turn in a bucket truck, and learned about EUS’ safety program.” The next step is an extensive training program put on by the Unama’ki Economic Benefits Office in Membertou. Lynn Meloney, training administrator with Emera Utility Services, explains: “EUS will provide three Aboriginal mentors to those in the program, most of the equipment and tools required for the work, and a commitment of a minimum of five jobs for those that successfully complete the 16 weeks of training. Training will include classroom lectures, group projects and fieldwork. Emera Utility Services training will provide Aboriginal participants with the skills necessary to install and repair data lines and cell towers for EMERA Utility Services. The Unama’ki Economic Benefits Office worked with the Native employment Officers (NEOs) to hold recruitment and information sessions in the five Unama’ki communities. The top 20 applicants were selected to participate in a career fair with Emera Utility Services and Emera selected the top 10 candidates to take the training program. The Economic Benefits Office has contracted the Nova Scotia Community College, Strait Campus, to deliver the training and individuals that successfully complete the training will get six electrical credits through the community college. During the past two years the Economic Benefits Office has rolled out a very successful partnership with the Sydney Tar Ponds Cleanup project, resulting is dozens of jobs and tens of millions of dollars in contracts for local Aboriginals. “This success has resulted in local Aboriginal businesses and workers gaining experience and expertise and a greater capacity to take on other economic opportunities such as this one with EMERA,” said Fitzgerald. The importance of the Unama’ki First Nations labour force to the continued development of the Cape Breton economy is without question. The five First Nation communities in Cape Breton, Unama’ki in the Mi’kmaq language, have formed a unique economic partnership to facilitate new investment, job creation, capacity building, skills transfer and training, planning and entrepreneurship. The model is demonstratively successful and gaining recognition across Canada. Despite its short history, the Unama’ki Economic Benefits Office (UEBO), established in 2007 in Membertou, has made noteworthy headway. The office has negotiated more than $19 million in contracts with the Sydney Tar Ponds Cleanup project. Thus far the Economic Benefits Office has generated 44 full time jobs for First Nations. The Tar Ponds contracts have given First Nations companies valuable experience and helped them expand their capacity so they can pursue other work on the cleanup as well as work outside the Tar Ponds. As a result, First Nations companies are now prominent in contracts valued at more than $71 million. The success at the Tar Ponds has given the Unama’ki Economic Benefits Office the confidence and experience to broaden its horizons and pursue new economic opportunities, especially those associated with port development and energy and environmental sustainability. “Another one of those economic opportunities is with our new partners, Emera Utility Services,” said Fitzgerald. SaskPower enters into agreement with three First Nations to proceed with feasibility studies SaskPower is working with three Saskatchewan First Nations to study the feasibility of developing a renewable energy project on the Saskatchewan River system. The James Smith Cree Nation, Chakastaypasin Band of the Cree and the Peter Chapman Band - along with their development partners, Brookfield Renewable Power and Peter Kiewit Sons Co. - have reached an agreement with SaskPower to study the feasibility of developing a hydroelectric project that would provide approximately 250 megawatts (MW) of power to the provincial electrical grid. Known as the Pehonan Hydroelectric Project - a Cree word meaning ‘we’re waiting by the creek’ - the proposed location would be downstream from the forks where the South Saskatchewan River meets the North Saskatchewan River. “Public-private partnerships provide many benefits to the people of Saskatchewan and our government is pleased with the potential of the Pehonan project,” Minister responsible for SaskPower Bill Boyd said. “It allows First Nations like James Smith, Chakastaypasin and Peter Chapman to become active participants in Saskatchewan’s growing economy, while leveraging the capital and expertise of development partners like Brookfield and Kiewit.” Under the terms of the agreement, new studies will take place to validate the results of previous site selection assessments. The studies will also determine the feasibility of the project from an environmental and economic perspective. This phase of the project could take up to four years. “In the early 1980s our past leaders had a vision for a hydro project on our land,” James Smith Cree Nation Chief Wally Burns said. “We are pleased to see that this government is making it a priority to work with First Nations and engage us in opportunities that will benefit our members and hopefully make this vision a reality. If this project can overcome all feasibility obstacles, it has the potential to have significant and positive long-term benefits for the members of our community and the people of Saskatchewan.” Should the project prove to be an economical supply option, the First Nations-private developer partnership would develop the site, build the power plant and enter into a long-term power purchase agreement with SaskPower. Pursuing emission free hydroelectric generation was one of the medium and long-term supply options SaskPower identified when it shared its future generation plans with the Legislative Assembly’s Standing Committee on Crown and Central Agencies in late 2009 and early 2010. The Committee endorsed this approach in its final report, which was issued in April 2010. Canada’s Economic Action Plan invests in Hiawatha First Nation and creates jobs Hiawatha First Nation residents and businesses will benefit from an investment of $865,300 to upgrade and expand the Serpent Mounds Park, a national historic site, announced May 18th by the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), as well as Dean Del Mastro, Member of Parliament for Peterborough. “Our government is working with people, businesses and First Nations in southern Ontario to ensure this region continues to thrive and prosper,” said Minister Goodyear. “This investment will create jobs, boost tourism at Serpent Mounds Park and help preserve this national historic site.” “We are providing funding for the development of local businesses and organizations because we understand the positive impact they have on our communities,” said MP Del Mastro. “I’m pleased our government is investing in tourism and economic growth right here in the Peterborough area.” With this contribution, Hiawatha First Nation will begin preliminary work to upgrade the Serpent Mounds Park and convert it from a campground into a Recreational Vehicle (RV) park facility. Work on this project will include the development of a business plan for the RV park, the design and engineering of water distribution and wastewater treatment systems, the demolition and removal of aging infrastructure, and site preparation for new facilities. Once completed, the new RV park will create jobs and enhance the local tourism industry. |
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