MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –
Source: Government of Canada – in French 1
On Friday, September 20, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for FedNor, hosted a roundtable with representatives from select regional Indigenous organizations, municipal stakeholders and senior government officials to identify economic development challenges and opportunities facing First Nations leaders and businesses in the region.
September 26, 2024 – Thunder Bay, Ontario – Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario – FedNor
On Friday, September 20, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for FedNor, hosted a roundtable with representatives from select regional Indigenous organizations, municipal stakeholders and senior government officials to identify economic development challenges and opportunities facing First Nations leaders and businesses in the region. This conversation is part of the ongoing renewal of the Northern Ontario Prosperity and Growth Strategy (SPCNO), aimed at ensuring that the Strategy continues to meet the needs of Northern Ontario.
Discussions focused on how the SPCNO contributes to meeting the unique needs of Northern Ontario residents, including First Nations communities. They focused on ways to effectively support First Nations-led economic development, including increasing First Nations homeownership rates, and facilitating First Nations joint ventures and access to business services in Northern Ontario. The meeting also provided an opportunity to learn more about regional perspectives on Indigenous economic reconciliation.
Specifically, during Friday’s discussions, participants emphasized the need to continue to support capacity-building efforts at the community level and the role that FedNor can play in encouraging and promoting cooperation between First Nations communities, municipalities and other levels of government. Other topics of discussion included the role and importance of transportation and access to education in Northern Ontario, particularly for rural and remote Indigenous communities, as well as the barriers that First Nations communities face in accessing capital, business development and succession planning.
Three additional virtual sessions, focusing on Indigenous economic growth and the challenges facing communities and businesses in the region, will be held later in the fall. FedNor will send out invitations in the coming weeks.
These sessions on the SPCNO are part of an ongoing effort by FedNor to engage diverse stakeholders across Northern Ontario. A report on what we heard will be released in the coming months, and a revised and final Northern Ontario Prosperity and Growth Strategy will be released in early 2025.
Roundtable participants included Brian Davey, Executive Director, Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund, Georjann Morriseau, Policy Advisor, Strategic Initiatives, Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Paul Capon, Policy Advisor, Matawa Tribal Council, Tara Ingram, Economic Development Advisor, Matawa First Nations Management, Alain Joseph, Manager, Indigenous Relations, City of Thunder Bay, Kim Falcigno, Vice-President, Oshki-Wenjack Oshki-Pimache-O-Win, Dawn Lambe, Economic Development Officer, Anishinabek Nation, Jeremy Bonhomme, Relationship Manager, First Nations Financial Management Board, Valerie Gideon, FedNor Chair, and Nick Fabiano, FedNor Vice-President, as well as FedNor staff.
Jennifer KozeljPress SecretaryOffice of the Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for FedNorjennifer.kozelj@sac-isc.gc.ca
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.