Press Releases
National Aboriginal Capital Corporation Association Response to Throne Speech
October 05, 2005
NACCA welcomes the Prime Minister's efforts to engage the Aboriginal community and engender consensus and commitment on the way forward in Aboriginal social and economic development. The success we have achieved in economic development (over $1 billion in loans since 1990) has demonstrated the necessity of engaging Aboriginal leadership and implementation for the success of social and economic programs.
We believe wholeheartedly in the economic principles the Prime Minister put forth in his 5-point plan in the economy, achieving success in our own efforts to create economic growth by fostering economic fundamentals such as investment, human resources and regional development. There is no better way to achieve the Prime Minister's key objectives of overcoming fetal alcohol syndrome and teen suicide in Aboriginal communities than by attacking the underlying causes of social instability, and creating more prosperous and dynamic economic communities. We stand ready for the opportunity to utilize the federal government's five-point plan for the economy to enhance the Aboriginal economic infrastructure, and contribute substantially to regional and national economies and to the trade balance.
Elaine Chambers, Chair of NACCA stated "we are very happy to see the much needed initiatives undertaken by the federal government in health care, education and employment and we would hope that the same level of investment will also be extended to the aboriginal economy, we are willing to work with our partners in both the public and private sector to bring this business activity up to the same level as the rest of the Canadian population".
The aboriginal economy still requires a huge amount of investment considering the aboriginal population within the next decade will comprise approximately 1/3 of the new job entrants in the new Canadian economy.
The recent initiatives of the federal government such as the Canada - Aboriginal Peoples Roundtable is encouraged and supported by the aboriginal institutions. The mention of developing modern Aboriginal institutions in the Throne Speech provides positive direction to First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples to take our rightful place in determining and contributing to our own economic future.
NACCA is uniquely placed to lead this growth...
NACCA is ready for the challenge...
For further information: Theresa Ducharme, Communications Officer at 613-688-0894, 613-868-8052 cell
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