Minister Rickford Announces New Aboriginal Partnership Projects in British Columbia

VANCOUVER, Jan. 23, 2015 /CNW/ - The Honourable Greg Rickford, Canada's Minister of Natural Resources, today met with Musqueam First Nation Chief Wayne Sparrow to discuss collaboration on environmental initiatives on Musqueam territory. During this visit, Minister Rickford announced an investment of $207,000 toward the restoration of key fish habitats in the Musqueam Creek watershed and the lower Fraser River tidal marsh, and an additional investment of $87,285 for the Musqueam First Nation to study the development of a Pacific Centre of Marine and Land Stewardship in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia. These announcements were made on behalf of the Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development.

The Fish Habitat Restoration Project will benefit the Musqueam First Nation by ensuring the protection and enhancement of marine and land habitats within the Musqueam people's traditional territory.

The Musqueam First Nation will examine the feasibility of a Pacific Centre of Marine and Land Stewardship to implement best-of-class traditional knowledge, local community and resource management practices and governance models in relation to the Lower Fraser River. This funding will help ensure that such a centre would meet the objectives and goals of First Nations, government and industry.

These announcements build on the discussion between Minister Rickford and Chief Sparrow last November to strengthen efforts between the Government of Canada and the Musqueam First Nation on the environmental aspects related to energy infrastructure development.

This partnership reinforces the Government's ongoing commitment to working with Aboriginal Peoples to ensure that they are fully engaged and have every opportunity to benefit from resource development projects in Canada.

Quick Facts

• In 2012, more than 13,500 Aboriginal people worked in the Canadian energy sector.
• According to the Public Policy Forum, over 400,000 Aboriginal youth will be entering the workforce in the next decade, creating an unprecedented opportunity to address the need for new workers in the oil and gas industry.
• The Conference Board of Canada estimates that B.C.'s natural gas sector could attract more than $180 billion of investment between now and 2035; Aboriginal Peoples have a major role to play in this growth.
• The Government of Canada opened the Major Projects Management Office – West in Vancouver to strengthen engagement with First Nations communities on issues related to proposed energy infrastructure projects on the West Coast.
• To assist in enhancing Aboriginal Peoples' participation in energy projects, Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada announced funding of up to $61 million over five years for the Strategic Partnerships Initiative. The funding will support engagement activities, economic and business development, environmental participation and habitat restoration.
• Enhancements to Canada's world-class pipeline and tanker safety systems include First Nations engagement and participation as a key component to achieving effective implementation.

Quotes

"Today's announcement demonstrates our government's commitment to working in partnership with Aboriginal communities through a broad range of initiatives to protect the environment and ensure the responsible development of our natural resources."

The Honourable Greg Rickford
Minister of Natural Resources and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario

"Musqueam must be part of the solution to ensure that energy infrastructure in shared territory is developed based on Coast Salish values, knowledge and expertise. We were pleased to meet with the Minister to begin the discussions regarding habitat restoration and marine stewardship."

Wayne Sparrow
Chief of the Musqueam First Nation

Related Products

Research into a Pacific Centre of Marine and Land Stewardship
Fish Habitat Restoration Project

Associated Links

Responsible Resource Development - http://eap.gc.ca/en/content/r2d-dr2 
Final Report of the Special Federal Representative on West Coast Energy Infrastructure http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/publications/home/87
Major Projects Management Office - West http://mpmo.gc.ca/west/projects/216

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SOURCE Natural Resources Canada

Image with caption: "Minister Rickford Announces New Aboriginal Partnership Projects in British Columbia - The Honourable Greg Rickford, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, and Chief Wayne Sparrow of the Musqueam First Nation announce new environmental initiatives between the Government of Canada and Musqueam First Nation on Friday, January 23, 2015, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (CNW Group/Natural Resources Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150123_C8003_PHOTO_EN_11477.jpg

Alexandra Lemieux, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister, Natural Resources Canada, 613-996-2007; Media Relations, Natural Resources Canada, Ottawa, 613-992-4447; The general public may contact: Mon.-Fri., 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. EST, Telephone: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]