Sept.16, 2008 2009 National CED conference By Owen Fitzgerald & Tracy Menge May2, 2009
Leadership & Business Cape Breton is building a strong New Economy Five First Nation Communities in Cape Breton are proud to be part of this effort Recognized Need Strong Leadership Recognized the Importance of Taking a Business Approach to Pursuing Economic Opportunities Recognized the Importance of Partnerships with Business Recognized the Importance of Education & Training Recognized the need for a Business Office to do Follow-up and make sure intent becomes reality
Protocol Agreement Protocol Agreement was signed Oct.28, 2005 by the Unama ki Chiefs and the Federal and Provincial governments Aim- to Identify How Unama ki Communities could effectively participate in the $400 million Sydney Tar Ponds Cleanup project All parties committed to developing a unique, made in Unama ki, Aboriginal Procurement Strategy Unama ki Economic Benefits Steering Committee January, 2007, Five Cape Breton First Nation communities established this unique economic partnership Steering Committee was Formed 2 to 3 Representatives From Each Unama ki Community. Also includes representatives for METS, Ulnooweg Devel Corp., NSCC & the Apprenticeship Program Meet each month, rotating between communities
Goal Maximize the near-term economic benefits for Unama ki communities- Jobs and Contracts Expand the long-term expertise and economic capacity of Unama ki Communities and Businesses Immediate Opportunity- $400 Million Sydney Tar Ponds Cleanup Project. Develop a proposal to establish an Office to Support their Efforts Unama ki Economic Benefits Office The Unama ki Economic Benefits Steering Committee submitted a proposal for the Provincial and Federal Government to Partner in establishing the Unama ki Economic Benefits Office
The Immediate Opportunity Sydney Tar Ponds Cleanup Project 323,000 Tons of Gravel Or 21,000 truck loads 374,000 M 2 of Clay 91,000 M 2 of Top Soil Another 66,000 truck loads 554,000 M 2 of Liners/Geotextiles 14 km of Siltation Fencing 600,000 M 2 Hydroseeding $2.9m on Water Management $7m on Testing and Monitoring Painting of Sydney- 1853- Before Steel Plant
Sydney Steel Plant- 1977 Sydney Tar Ponds Cleanup Project Unique Economic opportunity For Local Aboriginals
Jan 2007 Planning Session Owen Fitzgerald, Exec. Dir. with Dan Christmas, Chairperson Unama ki Economic Benefits Office Opens in Membertou, July, 2007
Purpose of Unama ki Economic Benefits Office Liaison between the aboriginal communities; both aboriginal and non-aboriginal businesses; and the Sydney Tar Ponds Agency. Facilitate partnerships and collaboration, thereby gaining jobs, experience and expanded capacity. Do assessment of assets and capabilities within the five communities. Assess the needs of the Sydney Tar Ponds Cleanup project. Identify which parts of the cleanup project Unama ki communities and businesses should focus their resources on. Purpose... Information Sharing with communities, liaison between Unama ki companies and the STPA and providing support to companies and workers Provide Guidance and Organize Training to ensure Unama ki Businesses are Successful with Proposals and Bids. Explore Possible Partnerships between Aboriginal Companies and Non-Aboriginal Companies.
Success Support from the Federal and Provincial governments ENABLED the Economic Benefits Office to achieve some significant success in working to maximize local Aboriginal participation with the $400 million Sydney Tar Ponds Celanup project But it is the hard work and leadership from the communities, through the Steering Committee, that has really made this effort successful The communities have taken ownership and pride in the economic partnership Steering Committee Tours Tar ponds Site Shown with Sydney Tar Ponds Agency President, Frank potter looking at the Cooling pond, June 2007
SUCCESS- Nova Scotia s first Aboriginal Set-Aside After years of planning and negotiations First Nova Scotia Aboriginal Set-aside was awarded in October, 2007 For the cleanup of the Cooling Pond Contract valued at $5 million, and was completed in April 2008 and employed about 22 people To bid on Set-Aside, a company had to be at least 51% Aboriginal owned and commit to 75% of employees being Aboriginal. Aboriginal participation on the Cooling Pond project was actually close to 85% Monitoring Aboriginal Participation Monthly Employment reports From STPA
Center- Sydney Tar Ponds & former site of Sydney Steel Plant -July 2008 Working on the Cooling Pond
Working on the Cooling Pond Nov 2007 Working on the Cooling Pond
Working on the Cooling Pond Working on the Cooling Pond- Apr 2008
The Cooling Pond project is a clear success. Without question this is largely attributable to the aboriginal contractors working on the project Frank Potter, President, Sydney Tar Ponds Agency. Unama ki Construction Crew at completion of Cooling Pond project, part of the Tar Ponds Cleanup, Apr.9, 2008
Community Workshops More than 300 members of the Unama ki communities have participated in the many information and training workshops during 2008 Workshops, provided the most current and detailed information on the Tar Ponds Cleanup project Provide expert information on issues such as Bid Bonds, Financing and preparing a Business Plans Help to Raise the Skills of Contractors in preparing Bids in response to RFPs and managing major construction contracts
Community Workshops Partnered with Canadian Executive Services Organization (CESO), bringing in a retire Engineer to conduct workshop on bidding on major construction tenders as well as issues of bid Bonds With Public Works Government Services Canada conducted training workshop on how to use MERX, the government online tendering system During 2008, Hosted Job Fairs in several communities with Nova Scotia Dept. of Transportation The Unama ki Economic Benefits Office Hosted two Workshops in Membertou during July 2008, one with representative of CESA, a retired Engineer, speaking on preparing a bid to a major construction tender as well as the issue of bid Bonds. The second workshop was put on by Public Works government Services Canada, on how to us MERX, the governments online tendering system
The Unama ki Economic Benefits Office and the Nova Scotia department of Transportation and Public works Hosted Job fair in Membertou on sept.8, 2008. The department has seven immediate openings in Cape Breton County Building Upon Success The Cooling Pond was the First Set-Aside- Great Success Now Promoting Aboriginal SUCCESS!- Promote the Experience and Capabilities of the Unama ki companies and Workforce to non-aboriginal companies that may work on the Tar Pond Cleanup Project Hope this will lead to Productive Partnerships and to nonaboriginal companies recognizing the value in hiring aboriginal workers
Success There have been More Negotiations for Future Aboriginal Set-Asides. On Sept.25, 2008, the Provincial and Federal Government signed a new Unama ki Procurement Strategy in Eskasoni Includes a total of over $19 Million in Aboriginal Set- Asides Will see significant and long-term participation by Aboriginals in the Sydney Tar Ponds Cleanup project Government Partners and Unama ki Communities sign Formal Agreement for $19 Million in Aboriginal Set- Asides for the Tar ponds Project Sept.25, 2008 in Eskasoni, First Nation
Success This is positive, not just for the Cape Breton First Nation communities, but for all Cape Breton. As Chief Terry Paul said, This is just the beginning, as we build upon this success. One major outcome of the First Nova Scotia Aboriginal Set-Aside, is that these companies don t just have Hope, they now have Confidence and a Growing Determination to succeed. Cape Breton Post, Mar.9, 2007 Membertou Company Wins $37 Million Tar Ponds Contract
Mar.7, 2009 In Membertou Federal Minister Peter MacKay visits Membertou to announce that a Membertou Company Wins $37 Million Tar Ponds contract Robin Googoo, President, MB2 Construction Work Schedule From STPA TP1 Coke Ovens and Wash Brook Channel Fall 2008-2014 TP2 Material Processing Facility Spring 2008 Fall 2008 TP6 Solidification/Stabilization Fall 2008-2014 TP7 Tar Ponds Surface Cap Fall 2008-2014 CO1 Coke Oven Brook Connector Sediment Removal Summer 2010 Fall 2010 CO2 Tar Cell Solidification/Stabilization Spring 2008 Winter 2009 CO5 Vertical Cutoff Walls Spring 2008 Fall 2008 CO6 Coke Ovens Surface Cap Summer 2008 Summer 2011 CO7 coke Ovens Brook Sediment Removal Spring 2008 Summer 2008 and Groundwater Collection System CO8 Coke Oven Water Treatment Plant Summer 2008 Fall 2008 CO9 On-Site Engineered Landfill Fall 2008 Fall 2009
Training Program The Unama ki Economic Benefits Office, recognizing the importance of training, developed a detailed training program. At a press conference in Membertou on July 28, 2008, the Federal Government announced a multi-year, multi-million dollar training program, for the Unama ki communities. The focus of this program is to tie training to industry needs and this ASEP training project is the first ever in Nova Scotia, and only the second in the Maritimes. ASEP a multi-year, multi-million dollar, training initiative. a partnership Between Unama ki communities, federal and provincial government and Industry The Aboriginal Skills Employment Partnership (ASEP) Project was announced in Membertou on july 28, 2008
Communication With success and a great story to tell, our office has been aggressively promoting this success Our office prepares a community update that outlines the activities of the Economic Benefits Office and sends this out to the communities every second month Many Regional and National publications have profiled the Unama ki Economic Benefits Office during 2008 Our own promotion material is bilingual, in English and Mi kmaq Importance of Communication Informing the Local Aboriginal Communities Informing Broader Community and Industry of Aboriginal Success
National Contaminated Sites Conference, Vancouver, May 1, 2008 Cape breton Post, Jan.19, 2008
Feature Article in National Aboriginal Magazine Say Magazine- Summer issue, 2008
Feature Article in National Aboriginal Magazine Windspeaker Business Quarterly- July issue, 2008 Broadening Horizons The Tar Pond project is still a critical part of this economic development effort, But more importantly, it is providing valuable experience and helping build capacity and expertise, thus allowed the Unama ki Economic Benefits Steering committee and Unama ki construction businesses to broaden their horizons and explore other economic opportunities and partnerships.
Building Internal Capacity In an effort to build upon its success and effectively address the many opportunities and challenges, the Unama ki Economic Benefits Office is expanding its own capacity by adding to its team of expertise. Building Internal Capacity It now has a staff of six full time employees, including: Executive Director ASEP Training Coordinator- Sept 2008 Procurement-Community Business Liaison Officer as of Jan 2009 Administrative Assistant Training Support-Job Coach Officer as of May 2009 Manager of the Membertou Entrepreneur Centre.
Building Internal Capacity Leadership comes from the Unama ki Communities, the Steering Committee, and accountability is to the Steering Committee and ultimately to the community s chief and council. In early 2009 the Unama ki Economic Benefits Office opened satellite offices in Eskasoni and Wagmatcook, so to better service the other Unama ki communities. The head office is in Membertou Local Business Community The Unama ki community of Membertou is now considered an integral part of the local economy and the local business community, with Membertou being an active member of the Chamber of Commerce and the Cape Breton Partnership. The Executive Director of the Unama ki Economic Benefits Office, is also the President of the Sydney and Area Chamber of Commerce. Exploring possibility of Establishing a Mi kmaq Chamber of Commerce
Global Economic Recession Considerable success and impact in its first 18 months of operation but the reality is that we have now entered a severe global economic recession. This will make the efforts of the Economic Benefits Office more challenging and more critical. Expectations have to be realistic and the focus is now on planning to ensure the Unama ki communities are in a strong position when we come out of this recession. Success Breeds Success New Economic Opportunities are now being brought to the Unama ki Economic Benefits Steering Committee President of DEVCO, Ross McCurdy, made a presentation about DEVCO s plans to spend $150 million on old mine site remediation over the next five years. Senior management from the Xstrata Donkin Mine project briefed the Steering Committee on their plans for developing a new $300 million Mine in Donkin
Other Opportunities During 2008, one of the Unama ki construction companies was successful in securing work on the DEVCO mine site remediation project. With the strong support system provided by the Unama ki Economic Benefits Office, Unama ki construction companies are clearly gaining Expertise, Experience, Capacity and Acceptance. Other Opportunities NewPage Pulp Mill in Port Hawkesbury hosted the Unama ki Economic Benefits Steering Committee for a briefing and tour in June 2008 In Nov. 2008, The Economic Benefits Steering Committee met with senior management planning the New $200 Million Container Terminal for Sydney Harbour and the $400 million container terminal for Melford Parks Canada Has also agreed to meet to explore how they might employ more aboriginals Preliminary meetings with ENCANA
Other Opportunities Seeking ways to engage more young Aboriginals in field of Science Exploring opportunity to partner in R&D at Cape Breton University in the area Energy and Environmental Sustainability Other Opportunities Immediate Opportunity is the Huge Coal reserves under the coastline of Cape Breton- 150 Billion tons of coal A bigger energy reserve that the Alberta Tar Sands The Sixth largest energy reserve in the world Hope to explore innovative ways to extract the energy from this coal, not by conventional mining, By mining the energy, in a way that turns one of the dirtiest energy sources, into one of the cleanest energy sources
Jan 2009 Federal Budget In the Jan 2009 Federal Budget the federal government committed to spending billions of dollars on infrastructure, both to stimulate the economy and provide long-term economic benefit. This presents a new opportunity that we are exploring Unama ki Economic benefits Steering Committee visit NewPage Pulp Mill- June 10, 2008
There are Challenges Securing a Bid Bond Preparing Successful Bid on a Multi-Million Dollar Tender Negotiating Positive Partnerships Building Strong Business History There are Challenges The other challenge is that there is just a small handful of construction companies that are bidding on these major construction projects and we need to encourage and support more people to open their own construction companies to tap into the opportunities, thereby sharing the wealth and building capacity.
Video documentary Launched April 2009 Story of the Mi kmaq Involvement in the Sydney Tar Ponds Cleanup Project Questions? www.unamaki.ca