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For Immediate Release
September 20, 2002

News Release

$1,497,900 Investment in Aboriginal Economic Development

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LONDON – Ontario has allocated nearly $1.5 million to the Ontario Aboriginal Economic Development Program (OAEDP) for the year 2002-2003 and renewed its agreement with the Southern First Nations Secretariat (SFNS) for the program's delivery, Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Native Affairs David Young announced today.

"The Aboriginal community represents one of the fastest growing, untapped labour markets in the province, said Young. The Eves government funds projects through the Ontario Aboriginal Economic Development Program to create opportunities for Aboriginal people to participate in Ontario's economy. The OAEDP promotes economic development in Aboriginal communities throughout Ontario, both on and off-reserve and is delivered through an alternative service delivery model jointly developed by Ontario and the Aboriginal Provincial Territorial Organizations.

"Renewing the Southern First Nations Secretariat contract provides seamless delivery and administration of the Ontario Aboriginal Economic Development Program, said Frank Mazzilli, MPP for London-Fanshawe and Parliamentary Assistant to the Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Native Affairs. The program enables Aboriginal communities to increase economic capacity and opportunities in order to promote self-reliance, economic growth and investment and more jobs for their communities, he added.

"The SFNS is a community-based, Aboriginal non-profit corporation that delivers and administers the OAEDP to communities in all regions throughout Ontario. The Southern First Nations Secretariat was selected as the OAEDP administrator through a competitive process in 2001 for a three-year term that is to be renewed annually. The total allocation includes administration and project funding.

"For the fiscal year 2001-2002, the OAEDP provided strategic investments totalling more than $1.3 million for 53 projects in three categories: in the category of Business Development, nine projects received more than $434,000 and included a hide tanning depot, a sheep raising operation, a bed and breakfast, an Aboriginal airline and a youth business; in the category of Economic Capacity Building, 23 Aboriginal organizations received more than $569,000 to develop their business plans; in the category of Organizational Development, 21 Aboriginal organizations received more than $303,000.

For more information on program criteria visit www.aboriginalaffairs.gov.on.ca., or www.aboriginalbusiness.on.ca, call the Southern First Nations Secretariat at 519-692-5868 or toll free at 1-800-391-3727, or contact them by email at www.sfns.on.ca.

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Merike Nurming
Ontario Native Affairs Secretariat
416-326-4079