Windspeaker business briefs - September

THE ATLANTIC POLICY CONGRESS HAS PARTNERED
with the federal government to see new investments to support Atlantic First Nations fisheries enterprises. The announcement was made on Aug. 31.

“I am pleased to see that First Nations people and communities in the Atlantic will continue to be key players in the Atlantic fishery,” said Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn Atleo . “The fisheries have sustained them for generations and continue to provide employment and economic opportunities for their people.”

The announcement, made in Truro, N.S. by chiefs Jesse Simon and Lawrence Paul of the Atlantic Policy Congress (APC) and John Duncan, the newly-appointed minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, will see the government invest $7.7 million over three years to help Mi’kmaq and Maliseet First Nations in the Maritimes and Gaspé Region of Quebec pursue economic opportunities in new areas of the fisheries sector, including aquaculture, seafood processing and marketing.

“First Nations believe that partnerships are an important part of the way forward to building stronger First Nation communities and governments,” said AFN Regional Chief for Nova Scotia-Newfoundland Rick Simon. He is also a member of the APC executive, in attendance for the announcement.

“In the Atlantic, revenues from fisheries contribute to better infrastructure for First Nation communities, help First Nation governments provide services for their people, and support education and training. This is about working together to build sustainable economies that allow our communities to thrive and chart their own direction forward. I want to congratulate Chief Paul and Chief Simon, the Atlantic Policy Congress and all their member First Nations and Minister Duncan for forging an important partnership for success,” Rick Simon said.

THE INDUSTRY COUNCIL FOR ABORIGINAL BUSINESS (ICAB)
and the Aboriginal Tourism Association of British Columbia (AtBC) hosted 122 guests at Klahowya Village in Stanley Park on Aug. 27 to celebrate British Columbia’s Aboriginal business growth. The evening included networking opportunities, a barbecue salmon dinner, musical entertainment and dancing. Guests included Phil Fontaine, former national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, and Squamish Nation Chief Ian Campbell.
ICAB President Marlane Christensen noted that the organization “is dedicated to providing opportunities for dialogue among leaders already dedicated to economic prosperity for all.” She said ICAB looks to its members to guide and grow the organization, as well as promote Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal businesses opportunities.
“It is important that ICAB continues to build programs with balanced input from leaders who are dedicated to building healthy, respectful relationships.”

ICAB has also announced another event for Sept. 29; a dialogue forum entitled “Asking the Unasked Questions: Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal Peoples as Business Allies.”

INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY & TOTALIZATOR SYSTEMS, INC.
announced on Aug. 27 that it has signed an agreement to supply an online lottery system and terminals for the Ohwistha Community Lottery, which will be operated in the Kahnawà:ke Mohawk Territory. Under the terms of the agreement, ILTS will deliver a turnkey system, including central system hardware and software, and terminals. In addition, ILTS will also provide a number of services, including installation, training and technical support.

President Jeff Johnson said, “We are extremely pleased to have Ohwistha Community Lottery as a new customer. We look forward to a long-term relationship and providing them with a quality online system to make this lottery a success.”

International Lottery & Totalizator Systems, Inc. provides computerized wagering systems, equipment and services to lottery and racing organizations worldwide.

OTTAWA HAS BEEN ORDERED BY THE
Federal Court to produce all documents relating to the development of a program that threatens the viability of Aboriginal financial institutions (AFIs), said the Tribal Wi-Chi-Way-Win Capital Corporation (TWCC) on Aug. 30. The federal government has also been ordered by the court to produce all documents related to any consultations with any First Nations organizations in relation to the program. The court order was made at a Federal Court hearing in Winnipeg on Aug. 10 in connection with an application for judicial review made by the capital corporation, a Manitoba AFI, in January.
Alan Park, Chief Executive Officer of TWCC, said the order represents a major victory for TWCC and all 57 AFIs operating in First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities across Canada.

“We are particularly gratified that the court is demanding the government produce documents that show Aboriginal organizations were consulted. We believe this is required under Section 35 of the Constitution Act.”

Indian and Northern Affairs Canada decided in 2008 to give loan guarantees to five selected non-Aboriginal banks and credit unions to stimulate lending to Aboriginal businesses in a program called the Loan Loss Reserve (LLR) Initiative. AFIs were deemed to be ineligible for the LLR Initiative even though they have been writing business loans in Aboriginal communities for two decades.

TWCC is arguing in court that the LLR Initiative represents unfair competition because AFIs can’t offer the same interest rates as their subsidized competitors. Continued existence of these one-sided subsidies will threaten the viability of all AFIs, TWCC asserts. Since their inception 20 years ago, AFIs have provided 35,000 loans to Aboriginal small business worth $1.4 billion with a success rate of 58 per cent. This compares to a success rate of 35 per cent among mainstream lenders.

The AFI is also arguing that Indian Affairs ignored its constitutional obligations to consult Aboriginal groups before implementing the LLR Initiative.