Ec Dev Forum Wraps Up

Ec Dev Forum Wraps Up

Thursday, March 17, 2011 at 14:16

 

 

The president of the Metis National Council says he’s pleased with yesterday’s Economic Development Forum that took place in Prince Albert.

 

Clem Chartier says the purpose of the gathering was to get industry reps, government officials and Metis leaders together under one roof.

 

Topics covered during yesterday’s event included corporate engagement, how to build capacity and keys to doing business.

 

Chartier says one thing that would help the Metis is if they got their own land-base.

 

The MNC is planning to hold similar conferences in other provinces over the next few months.

 

Meanwhile, a Beauval businessman says he wishes it was easier for Metis contractors to get work with Cameco and Areva.

 

Alex Maurice says for years he has tried to get contracts with the uranium giants but to no avail.

 

Maurice says the companies do use Aboriginal contractors, but there’s only so many and it’s hard for new companies to get on board.

 

Lately, he says there are some indications the situation could be changing but he’s not sure when.

 

Cameco and Areva were on hand at the forum to discuss these and other issues around job creation and development.

 

Lennard Morin is an area director in Cumberland House.

 

He says that while much of the north has benefited from things like mining, he feels the east side has been largely left out.

 

Morin adds while the east-side did experience a lot of hydro-development in past years, much of it impacted the fishing industry in a bad way.