October 1, 2018 - Regina, Saskatchewan - Session 2

Date: October 1, 2018
Location: Regina, Saskatchewan

Total participants

Key themes or ideas

1. Problems with provincial engagement
2. Accelerated settlement to land claims and treaty entitlements are key drivers to economic development
3. Access to capital and equity position is a challenge
4. Medicinal Marijuana is an opportunity
5. Accessing federal dollars $900; $62M for the Pan Canadian Framework
6. Procurement assistance
7. Training and accessing potential
8. Clusters are important with agriculture value added and clean technology aligning well with Indigenous people

Q1) What does a stronger western Canadian economy look like 10 years from now?

• Assets and community mapping in the agri-food side for the indigenous area would be useful.  There is capacity for entrepreneurship and agriculture value added projects.
• One area is the lack of a provincial strategy and a coordinated federal approach.  $900M is being held federally and the lack of a provincial plan is concerning.
• We need strong economic participation of Indigenous groups including access to training.
• First Nations have to be participants; there is a large population demanding opportunity.

Q2) What are the best ways to spur new growth in western Canada

• There are challenges with access to capital.  Cost of capital is an issue.  If you need costlier alternatives, this weighs in on project viability.
• Capacity development.
• Public policy on procurement – This has to enable indigenous economic engagement.
• Duty to consult and accommodate – How do you access resources?
• Agri-food side there is a lot of under used land base including traditional reserve and land claims.
• One of the biggest driver for economic development could be land claims. Economic participation is being driven by getting more lands and settlement funds.  Dealing with land claims will lead to an acceleration of economic activity.  This is a key driver for First Nation bands in the province.
• In 2005, Little Black Bear band developed a 30-year economic development plan with a goal of one new business a year.
• Knowing where we are today with economic analysis of the economic potential of First Nations Lands for renewable energy, including an asset inventory of existing projects and partnerships across Canada (Western Canada) would be a useful starting point.

Q3) What will help the Indigenous economy continue to grow?

• Indigenous partnership is an asset as bands have the ability to purchase land through a settlement agreement when an opportunity is identified.
• There are challenges around land price increased from settlement funds or being blocked from purchase.
• The notion of getting control of the land from outside the Indian act could provide more certainty around economic opportunities.
• Joint ventures are also important including infrastructure opportunities on the power grid.  A national energy strategy that include SaskPower and procurement investments would help stimulate growth.
• Procurement is a challenge indigenous people face and there has to be a reason for the industry proponent to dilute.
• Do not underestimate the cannabis market for First Nations. Little Black Bear First Nation is currently working with Health Canada to get approval for a medicinal license.
• The First Nations Technical Services Advisory Group model could provide tremendous value in supporting technical services for indigenous communities, in particular relating to clean energy.
  • This could be in a wide range of areas such as community planning, energy audits, conservations initiatives and capacity building as it relates to readiness in supporting technical aspects of land management.

Q4) How can we improve economic participation in the west of underrepresented groups, including women, youth, and new immigrants

• We need to rethink the economic levers.
• Economic development, chambers, Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association etc. have a role to help impact the province and change the discussion.
• Eight years ago Indigenous groups studied the incubator process unless there are ongoing supports in place this is not viable.
• How do you get first nations fully engaged? Capital leveraging supports in addition to training.
• Training partnerships with organizations such as Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies or Saskatchewan Polytechnic, particularly in areas such as solar or wind maintenance and operations could drive participation.

Q5) How can governments, industry, and western Canadians work together to grow the regional economy?

• Band does not understand the programs at WD.  More education on what is offered, perhaps developing and education strategy and how they can link it to economic initiatives would be useful.
• Health Canada could look at production, land use could be an important catalyst for economic development.
• The Canadian Agricultural Partnership does not have the research components. The demise of Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration was also not welcomed.
• Clusters are important with agriculture value added and clean technology aligning well with Indigenous people.
• Accessing federal infrastructure funding such as the Pan-Canadian Framework and working more closely with the Crowns in supply chain opportunities would provide more opportunity.
• Aligning clean energy and technology innovation with the broader growth strategy is important.
• There would be value in creating a National Indigenous Renewable Energy Council to explore opportunities. This organization could be similar to the National Aboriginal Economic Development Board.