Senators Find Common Keys To Aboriginal Prosperity

Senators Find Common Keys To Aboriginal Prosperity

Tuesday, September 26, 2006 at 16:14

Senators studying economic development disparity in Aboriginal communities say it appears the most critical element to prosperity is a land base.

The Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples was in La Ronge yesterday on a fact-finding mission.

Over the last couple of years, the panel has been trying to determine why some Native communities enjoy economic prosperity, while others don’t.

Committee chair Gerry St. Germain says weak leadership can be a big deterrent to economic development, but deputy chair Nick Sibbeston notes a lack of a land base is an even larger obstacle.

St. Germain also says Aboriginal communities with some sort of self-government arrangement are more likely to have a positive economic outlook.

St. Germain is hoping the committee can develop a formula or recipe for success based on its study, and convince the federal government to adopt the recommendations.

The Senate committee is hosting a public hearing on the issue today at the Radisson Hotel Saskatoon.