Aboriginal Training and Inclusion Plan Annual Report. Site C Clean Energy Project

Transcription

1 Abriginal Training and Inclusin Plan Annual Reprt Site C Clean Energy Prject Reprting perid: June 2016 thrugh June 2017 Date:

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3 Table f Cntents Backgrund The Site C Clean Energy Prject Descriptin f Site Preparatin and Cnstructin Activities during the Reprting Perid... 1 Objective and Scpe Objective f the Abriginal Training and Inclusin Plan Scpe and Reprting Perid... 2 Implementatin f the Plan June 2016 t June Cmmunicatin f ptential emplyment pprtunities t Abriginal grups Site C Cntractr Hiring and Training f Abriginal peple Strategies fr Capacity Building, Educatin, and Training Assciated with Abriginal Participatin in the Labur Market Resurces and Funding Arrangements t Supprt Training, Industry and Abriginal Partnership Opprtunities in the Regin Other Inclusin Opprtunities Abriginal Invlvement in Site C Field Prgrams New Prgrams Abriginal Business Participatin Strategy Site C Prject Abriginal Business Inclusin Engagement with Lcal Abriginal Business Cmmunity Infrmatin Gathering... 7 Schedule... 7 Site C Abriginal Training and Inclusin Plan: Annual Reprt i

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5 1 Backgrund 1.1 The Site C Clean Energy Prject The Site C Clean Energy Prject (the Prject) will be the third dam and generating statin n the Peace River in nrtheast BC. The Prject will prvide 1,100 megawatts f capacity and abut 5,100 gigawatt hurs f energy each year t the prvince s integrated electricity system. The Prject will be a surce f clean, reliable and cst-effective electricity fr BC Hydr s custmers fr mre than 100 years. The key cmpnents f the Prject are: an earthfill dam, apprximately 1,050 metres lng and 60 metres high abve the riverbed; an 83 kilmetre lng reservir that will be, n average, tw t three times the width f the current river; a generating statin with six 183 MW generating units; tw new 500 kilvlt AC transmissin lines that will cnnect the Prject facilities t the Peace Canyn Substatin, alng an existing right-f-way; realignment f six segments f Highway 29 ver a ttal distance f apprximately 30 kilmeters; and cnstructin f a berm at Hudsn s Hpe. The Prject als includes cnstructin f temprary access rads, a temprary bridge acrss the Peace River, and wrker accmmdatin at the dam site. 1.2 Descriptin f Site Preparatin and Cnstructin Activities during the Reprting Perid The reprting perid fr this annual reprt cincides generally with the secnd year f prject cnstructin. Belw is a high-level summary f cnstructin activities that tk place during this perid: the 1600-persn wrker accmmdatin facility was cmpleted and is fully peratinal; early wrks / site preparatin was cmpleted n the dam site area s nrth bank; site preparatin wrk was cmpleted n the dam site area s suth bank, with the exceptin f sme clearing wrk in the lwer reservir; the main civil wrks cntractr began physical wrks in the dam site area; cnstructin f the temprary Mberly River cnstructin bridge was cmpleted; upgrades t public rads n the nrth bank were advanced; excavatin and slpe stabilizatin n the nrth bank; transmissin line clearing and access rad cnstructin cmmenced and is nging; Site C Abriginal Training and Inclusin Plan: Annual Reprt 1

6 the turbines and generatrs cntractr mbilized t site and cmmenced cnstructin f facilities and wrks; and the suth bank cfferdam and cut-ff wall was cmpleted. 2 Objective and Scpe 2.1 Objective f the Abriginal Training and Inclusin Plan The bjective f the June 5, 2015 Abriginal Training and Inclusin Plan (ATIP) is t meet the requirement f Envirnmental Assessment Certificate cnditin 54, by peratinalizing the mitigatin measures prpsed in relevant sectins (Sectin 17: Labur Market, Sectin 18: Reginal Ecnmic Develpment, and Sectin 28: Ppulatin and Demgraphics) f the Envirnmental Impact Statement with respect t Abriginal grups and their interests in emplyment and training pprtunities. The ATIP utlines the apprach and strategies fr training and inclusin t be fllwed during the cnstructin phase f the Prject. 2.2 Scpe and Reprting Perid This annual reprt describes the implementatin f the ATIP frm June 2016 thrugh June This is the secnd annual reprt. 3 Implementatin f the Plan June 2016 t June 2017 This reprt summarizes the implementatin f the mitigatin measures described in sectin 5.0 f the ATIP. 3.1 Cmmunicatin f ptential emplyment pprtunities t Abriginal grups BC Hydr and Site C cntractrs participated at jb fairs and business netwrking sessins in the fllwing First Natin cmmunities: Blueberry River First Natin (June 22, 2016), McLed Lake Indian Band (March 9, 2017), Halfway River First Natin (March 15, 2017), and Saulteau First Natins (February 2017). These events were held t prvide an pprtunity fr Abriginal cmmunities and businesses t cnnect with cntractrs assciated with the Prject. Mrever, BC Hydr had members f its Prcurement and/r Abriginal Relatins teams attend t discuss emplyment and prcurement pprtunities n Site C, as well as prcurement and emplyment pprtunities with BC Hydr directly. General jb inquiries with Site C cntractrs are made thrugh the Site C Prject website. In additin, jb pprtunities with the Prject are als psted n the WrkBC and Emplyment Cnnectins websites. During engagement with Abriginal cmmunities and when respnding t specific jb related inquiries, BC Hydr directs jb seekers t the Prject website and encurages Abriginal jb seekers t reach ut t cntractrs directly fr emplyment pprtunities. Site C Abriginal Training and Inclusin Plan: Annual Reprt 2

7 As f June 2017, the Site C envirnmental and cnstructin0f1 cntractrs emplyed 213 Abriginal wrkers. 3.2 Site C Cntractr Hiring and Training f Abriginal peple BC Hydr s cntractrs are required t make effrts t prvide pprtunities fr subcntracting, emplyment and training fr Abriginal businesses and individuals, and t reprt n Abriginal inclusin in the perfrmance f their wrk. BC Hydr cntractrs have reprted the fllwing training and apprenticeship pprtunities fr Abriginal persns n the Site C Prject; - Training and emplyment f Abriginal carpenter apprentices n the Prject. - In additin, during the reprting perid and where applicable t their rle, the fllwing safety training has been prvided t ver 50 Abriginal wrkers n the Site C Prject: Fire Suppressin Training; Pwer System Safety Prtectin (PSSP); Risk Tlerance; H2S (Hydrgen Sulfide) Awareness; First Aid; and, Bear Aware Strategies fr Capacity Building, Educatin, and Training Assciated with Abriginal Participatin in the Labur Market BC Hydr has implemented capacity building initiatives that have supprted essential skills training, pre-trades and trades training, r increased business capacity in Abriginal businesses. BC Hydr will cntinue t cnsider prpsals frm Abriginal grups and training rganizatins fr ptential capacity building, educatin and training pprtunities thrughut the cnstructin phase f the Prject. The fllwing sectin prvides an update n the initiatives described in the ATIP. 3.3 Resurces and Funding Arrangements t Supprt Training, Industry and Abriginal Partnership Opprtunities in the Regin BC Hydr recgnized the imprtance f supprting training pprtunities fr skills develpment, trades training and jb readiness in the early phases f the Prject. Updates t the initiatives listed in the ATIP are described belw. BC Hydr Trades and Skilled Training Bursary at Nrthern Lights Cllege BC Hydr has prvided $1 millin in funding t the Nrthern Lights Cllege Fundatin (NLCF) ver a five-year perid t supprt the develpment f skilled wrkers in nrtheast BC, which aims t assist students wh may nt therwise have access t pst-secndary educatin. Fifty per cent f the funding fr bursaries is dedicated t Abriginal students. In August 2013, NLCF started distributing the bursary awards. As f March 2017, 180 students had received bursaries, 1 Cnstructin cntractrs include ATCO Tw Rivers Ldging wrkfrce numbers. Site C Abriginal Training and Inclusin Plan: Annual Reprt 3

8 including 69 Abriginal students wh have benefitted frm the bursary in prgrams such as electrical, welding, millwright, cking, scial wrk and many thers. BC Hydr, in additin t Nrthern Lights Cllege Fundatin, cntinues t prmte the bursary with Abriginal grups by sharing infrmatin with First Natin Educatin Managers at bth Abriginal and nn-abriginal cmmunity career fair events. Minerva Fundatin Cmbining Our Strength Initiative BC Hydr cntinues t prvide funding t Minerva t supprt Treaty 8 First Natin wmen f nrtheast BC wishing t participate in the Cmbining Our Strength Initiative. The purpse f the initiative is t create a space fr Abriginal wmen t discver themselves, cnnect with thers, and t enhance leadership skills. Cmmitted funding has been prvided fr Ōhō Educatin Building n the success f the Ōhō Educatin prgram fr Treaty 8 Abriginal Educatin Crdinatrs and Leaders, BC Hydr prvided Ōhō Educatin with additinal funding during the reprting perid t supprt eight Treaty 8 Emplyment and Training Assistants (ETAs) t develp human resurces skills within each cmmunity. BC Hydr is cllabrating n this initiative with Ōhō Educatin, NENAS, ATCO Structures & Lgistics, and Peace River Hydr Partners. As part f the training, ETAs met with ATCO, Peace River Hydr Partners and BC Hydr t learn abut careers, emplyment pprtunities, and the hiring prcesses with the rganizatins. ETAs have als received turs f BC Hydr s nrthern facilities, including the ATCO camp at the Site C cnstructin site. The training prgram cmmenced April 2016 and ended August After cmpleting the training prgram, ETAs will be able t help jb seekers within their cmmunities. Since then, NENAS has decided t drp the ETA prgram within their funding mdel. Three f the First Natins cmmunities have hired their ETAs and they are nw wrking fr their Bands (Prphet River First Natin, Halfway River First Natin, and Saulteau First Natins). 3.4 Other Inclusin Opprtunities In additin t the specific prgrams and partnerships described abve, BC Hydr has prvided ther pprtunities fr Abriginal grups t participate in the Prject as described belw. 3.5 Abriginal Invlvement in Site C Field Prgrams Abriginal invlvement in field studies fr the Site C heritage prgram has been nging since Abriginal grups that have participated in heritage wrk include: Dig River First Natin Dene Tha First Natin Halfway River First Natin Frt Nelsn First Natin McLed Lake Indian Band Kelly Lake Métis Settlement Sciety Saulteau First Natins Métis Natin BC Halfway River First Natin Kwadacha First Natin Site C Abriginal Training and Inclusin Plan: Annual Reprt 4

9 Prphet River First Natin Tsay Keh Dene First Natin Hrse Lake First Natin Kelly Lake Cree Natin Duncan s First Natin These grups cntinue t be cntacted abut current heritage field assistant pprtunities. BC Hydr has als tried t facilitate Abriginal invlvement in Site C envirnmental field studies, where pssible. 3.6 New Prgrams BC Hydr cntinues t recgnize the imprtance f supprting learning and training pprtunities that culd lead t emplyment n the Site C Prject. The fllwing describes new initiatives BC Hydr is supprting in nrtheast BC: Camp Ck Prgram BC Hydr and ATCO Lgistics spnsred a camp ck training prgram. Six candidates cmprised f members frm Saulteau First Natins, Halfway River First Natin and Indigenus candidates participated in the prgram with three f the candidates being successful in btaining emplyment with ATCO at Site C. Cnstructin Craft Wrker (CCW) BC Hydr is wrking with Peace River Hydr Partners (PRHP) and the Christian Labur Assciatin f Canada (CLAC) t facilitate incmmunity Abriginal CCW training and ther relevant apprenticeship prgram training. CLAC is wrking with the Saulteau First Natins t prvide CCW training via vide cnference (virtual classrm) in the First Natin cmmunity. Ten candidates frm Saulteau First Natins were hired and are apprenticing at Site C with PRHP. Mberly Lake Academic Prgram With funding supprt prvided by BC Hydr, this is an upgrading prgram based at Saulteau First Natins in partnership with West Mberly First Natin. Educatin managers and a crdinatr frm West Mberly First Natin and Saulteau First Natins versee the successful in-cmmunity prgram that allws students t btain their Adult Dgwd Diplma r upgrade t enable them t qualify fr entrance int pst-secndary prgrams. Several students have been able t gain access t pst-secndary prgrams including the CCW Prgram that was hsted by the cmmunity in 2016 and have gne n t wrk fr PRHP as an apprentice CCW. Yuth Hires Prgram In 2016, five Treaty 8 candidates were hired int ur Yuth Hire Prgram (Saulteau First Natins and West Mberly First Natin), with ne being hired as an electrical apprentice with BC Hydr in In the 2017 Yuth Hire Prgram, there were six Yuth Hires hired in the nrtheast regin representing McLed Lake Indian Band, Saulteau First Natins and Blueberry River First Natin with three being placed at BC Hydr Site C ffice in Frt St Jhn. Pathway t Success with BC Hydr (Skills Building Initiative) This 3 day curse ffered 37 candidates an pprtunity t develp a resume, learn emplyment readiness skills, cnfidence building activities, skills identificatin, interview skills, create addresses, and interact with BC Hydr cntractrs PRHP and ATCO t learn firsthand abut pprtunities and hw t submit resumes. It was delivered in the cmmunities f McLed Lake Indian Band, Blueberry River, Halfway River and Dig River First Natins. The success f this prgram was apparent in the evaluatins submitted by the Site C Abriginal Training and Inclusin Plan: Annual Reprt 5

10 participants. Crrespndence with the candidates is nging and will cntinue as we wrk tgether t explre pprtunities. Site C Tur Representatives frm Dig River and Halfway River First Natins participated in a site tur f the Prject as a fllw-up t the Pathways t Success Prgram. Cnstructin Safety Training System (CSTS09) This training is available fr Indigenus candidates seeking emplyment where this certificate is required, and especially fr thse interested in wrking at Site C with ne f ur cntractrs. Electr- Fishing Training Curse Eight candidates participated in this University f Nrthern British Clumbia (UNBC) tw-day curse ffered at Nrthern Lights Cllege. BC Hydr supprted this prgram by allwing candidates t stay at the Site C camp fr tw nights while attending this training. The candidates will utilize their training t wrk n varius BC Hydr prjects including Site C. A re-write f the exam is being arranged fr the students that did nt achieve the passing grade f 80%. A refresher curse was held in March 2017 with fur candidates attending and ne mre candidate successfully btaining their certificatin. 3.7 Abriginal Business Participatin Strategy 3.8 Site C Prject Abriginal Business Inclusin BC Hydr supprts the advancement f ecnmic pprtunities fr Abriginal grups, and is wrking with Abriginal businesses with respect t cntracting pprtunities n the Prject. In additin, BC Hydr s cntractrs are required t make effrts t prvide pprtunities fr subcntracting, emplyment and training fr Abriginal businesses and individuals, and t reprt n Abriginal inclusin in the perfrmance f their wrk. Abriginal businesses have been awarded wrk n the Site C Prject in the fllwing areas: Clearing Site preparatin Rads and bridges Safety and security Grass seed supply Wetland mitigatin Safety buys Prject health clinic Substatin wrk Envirnmental mnitring 3.9 Engagement with Lcal Abriginal Business Cmmunity BC Hydr cntinues t engage the lcal Abriginal Business cmmunity thrugh the fllwing initiatives: Site C Business Directry: BC Hydr cntinues t encurage businesses t register themselves n the Site C Business Directry. In ding s, any business, including Abriginal businesses, will receive infrmatin abut upcming Site C prcurements and r events. Site C Abriginal Training and Inclusin Plan: Annual Reprt 6

11 BC Hydr Abriginal Business Directry: Cncurrently while encuraging businesses t registered n the Site C Business Directry, BC Hydr als recmmends specifically t Abriginal businesses t register n the BC Hydr Abriginal Business directry. This directry is publically accessible and prvides a frum fr nn-abriginal businesses and Abriginal businesses t cnnect and build partnerships. Prcurement Prcess Supprt: On request, BC Hydr s prcurement and Abriginal Relatins staff are available t discuss prcurement prcesses and ways t stay infrmed abut upcming prcurements. BC Hydr wrks clsely with Abriginal cmmunities and businesses t understand their capacity and interest with respect t the Prject and identificatin f ptential cntracting pprtunities Infrmatin Gathering BC Hydr cntinues t cnduct market sunding activities with Abriginal cmmunities and lcal Abriginal businesses t better understand their capacity and interest in participating in wrk with the Site C Prject. As infrmatin is made available, BC Hydr will als share the infrmatin with the brader cmpany and teams fr cnsideratin f future prcurement pprtunities. 4 Schedule BC Hydr will cntinue t carry ut activities described in the Plan, as apprpriate, n an nging basis thrugh the cnstructin phase f the Prject. Site C Abriginal Training and Inclusin Plan: Annual Reprt 7