Mr. Chair, the strategic partnerships initiative makes investments to address key priorities, such as encouraging engagement between first nations, industry and the government, as well as providing jobs and skills training to prepare first nations for the labour market. The program is designed to increase aboriginal participation in complex economic opportunities, particularly in the natural resource sectors where projects are emerging at an unprecedented rate across the country. To date, the initiative has supported over 400 aboriginal communities and organizations.
With significant investments in major projects anticipated in the next 10 years, the strategic partnerships initiative will focus increasingly on supporting community economic readiness activities so that communities are better prepared to engage with partners and participate fully in these developments.