Economic Development

1
Economic Development
3RD NATIONAL FIRST NATIONS YOUTH
SUMMIT Rebuilding Our Nations National Unity,
Voices From The Community October 30 November
1, 2007

• Breakout Session 1
• Oct. 30th 2007

2
Agenda Overview

• Introductions
• Phase 1 Evaluation Form
• Presentation
• Brainstorming on Gaps
• Brainstorming on Priorities
• Brainstorming on Five-Year Activities
• What they are
• Who will do them
• What resources/capacity are needed
• Phase 2 Evaluation Form

3
What impacts economic development for First
Nations

• Education
• Training and Labour Development
• Employment
• Access to Land
• Exploitation of Natural Resources
• Fisheries, Gaming, Forestry, Mining
• Youth Businesses/Entrepreneurship
• Recognizing Traditional Activities
• First Nations Self-government
• Life skills relevant to employment and
  self-employment

4
Question

• What are good predictors for First Nations youth
  to do well in school?

(RHS 2002-03)
5
Predictors of Good School Performance

• They eat well
• They play sports and other types of physical
  activity
• They play in music groups
• They are involved in traditional activities like
  drumming and dancing

6
Question

• What are good predictors for First Nations youth
  who dont do well in school?

(RHS 2002-03)
7
Predictors of Poor School Performance

• Living in overcrowded conditions
• 57.4 of First Nations youth live in households
  with six or more people, mostly family.
• Consuming alcohol
• Smoking
• Being sexually active
• Parents have attended residential schools

8
Key Facts

• The FN population is growing at three times the
  rate of Canadas
• Over 50 of First Nations individuals are under
  the age of 25, compared to 34 of Canadians
• Twice the rate of FN youth between 15-24 yrs
• Just over one third of FN youth are graduating
  from Grades 12-13
• The unemployment rate for First Nations youth
  between 15 and 24 was 38.3
• First Nations youth who are not accessing
  postsecondary education cite financial barriers
  as the main reason
• The gap between First Nations receiving income
  from employment vs. government sources is closing
  in the 30-59 years range

9
Key Facts (ctd)

• Within the next 5 years
• Canadas labor force will start decreasing
• Within the next 10 years
• RCAP predicted that over 300,000 jobs will need
  to be created for Aboriginal people
• 80,000 workers in the construction sector alone
  will be retiring
• Within the next 20 years
• More Canadians will be dependent on Canadas
  social safety net than contributing to the tax
  base
• Unless there is a continued high rate of
  immigration, Canadas population will start to
  decline
• over 400,000 young Aboriginal People will enter
  the workforce

10
Land/Natural Resources Facts

• Supreme Court cases like Haida, Taku, and Mikisew
  show that resource development projects must
  consult and provide accommodation to First
  Nations governments
• Resource revenue sharing agreements and improved
  Impact Benefit Agreements provide longer-term
  economic investment possibilities for First
  Nations governments

11
Question

• What has been recommended as an overall strategy
  for Canada-FN Business Development?

12
Canada-FN Business Development

• The Conference Board of Canadas study of
  business has recommended
• Settling land claims and treaty negotiations
• Engaging First Nations-Crown approaches to
  economic development, capacity building,
  performance measurement and accountability
• Enhancing communication and collaboration between
  government, First Nations and private industry to
  match education and training to business needs
• Developing and implementing a process to meet the
  Crowns fiduciary duty to consult in the permit
  and approvals process

13
Canada-FN Business Dev

• When the preconditions of basic infrastructure
  (roads, powers, and ports) and human capital
  (health and education) are in place, markets are
  powerful agents of development.
• - Dr. Jeffery Sachs, The End of Poverty, 2005

14
Current Initiatives

• 2005 FN Education Action Plan
• 2005-2010 AFN Fisheries Strategy
• Includes some support for the Aboriginal Aquatic
  Resources and Ocean Management and Aboriginal
  Inland Habitat (AHIP) programs
• Need more consultation/co-management, commercial
  access and training
• Advancement of Resource Revenue Sharing/Impact
  Benefit Agreements
• Aboriginal Human Resources and Development
  Agreements
• AFN Review of the Canadian Environmental
  Protection Act, Fisheries Act and Species At Risk
  Act
• AFN Corporate Challenge
• Joint agreements to enhance FN opportunities in
  corporations
• AFN Economic Development Blueprint
• FN Market-Based Housing Initiative

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Current Initiatives (ctd)

• AFN Submission for Federal Budget 2007
• Immediately lifting the 2 funding cap on core
  programs and services and compensate those
  programs for lost monies since 1996
• For education and skills development, this means
  1.3B
• Design and implement new secure funding
  frameworks based on need - to ensure adequate,
  predictable, and sustainable funding to First
  Nations
• Make sure budgets grow annually to meet the
  actual costs of population and inflation growth
  in the future.
• Invest in human and resource development and
  support sustainable First Nations economies

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Whats Next?

• What are the key Gaps in supporting First
  Nations youth to advance First Nations economic
  development?
• What are the key Priorities for First Nations
  youth initiatives in the area of First Nations
  economic development?
• What are some Five-Year Activities that you
  would suggest to address the gaps and meet the
  priorities?
• Who will do them?
• What resources/capacity are needed?
• Please dont forget to complete Evaluation Form
  before leaving the session!