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For Immediate Release
October 25, 2002

News Release

Eves Government Funds $1.6 Million to Create Aboriginal Corporate Partnerships

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TORONTO – Fifteen Aboriginal organizations will receive a total of $1.6 million to continue employing community-based Partnership Development Advisors (PDAs) who are dedicated to the development of business opportunities between the Aboriginal community and corporate sector, Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Native Affairs David Young announced today.

The Partnership Development Advisors initiative is funded through Ontario's Working Partnerships program. This initiative provides funds to fifteen Ontario Aboriginal economic and employment organizations (list attached) to hire and manage advisors who focus on creating jobs through the facilitation of Aboriginal business partnerships.

"Our Building Aboriginal Economies strategy is working. In 2001-2002, the Partnership Development Advisors assisted in the creation of more than 300 full-time equivalent jobs, 52 partnerships and 16 businesses as well as stimulating the expansion of 11 businesses," Young said. "Both the Aboriginal community and the corporate community benefit from these partnerships."

The Partnership Development Advisors program is a key element of Ontario's Building Aboriginal Economies Strategy and the Working Partnerships program launched in July 1998.

Al Day, Acting Executive Director, Economic Development at Southern First Nations Secretariat (SFNS), one of the participating organizations in the PDA program, noted the practical results of the program. "The PDA program provides our member nations with significant opportunities for partnerships with private sector companies," he said. "The program has also driven us to move from the developmental stages towards implementation and structuring activities."

"We are pleased to be in partnership with Ontario's Working Partnerships program to deliver the Partnership Development Advisors initiative," said Sylvia Maracle, Executive Director of the Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centres. "Ontario, through the Partnership Development Advisors initiative, has taken a positive step in recognizing the job opportunities that exist in the under-developed urban Aboriginal business communities," Maracle added. "The support provided by the Working Partnerships program is an integral part of our efforts to address the barriers faced by Aboriginal women and youth living in urban areas who wish to fully participate in the economy."

Shawn Batise, Chairman of the Board at Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund, Thunder Bay is pleased to have a Partnership Development Advisor working with his community. "Our PDA, together with other internal and external resources, provides Northern Ontario First Nations entrepreneurs and communities with help to identify, develop and establish partnerships to strengthen the Aboriginal economy. The convenience of having a Partnership Development Advisor working on-site at existing organizations provides the continuity that we need and the one-stop shopping our clients need for Aboriginal economic and business development support."

More information about the PDA program and other Working Partnerships program initiatives can be found online at www.aboriginalbusiness.on.ca or www.aboriginalaffairs.gov.on.ca.

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Merike Nurming
Ontario Native Affairs Secretariat
416-326-4079

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List of Partnership Development Advisors and their Organizations

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Jim Hunter
Indian Agricultural Program of Ontario
P.O. Box 83, Station Lambeth
London, ON  M6P 1P9
Phone: (519) 652-2440

Bruce Visitor
Matawa First Nation Management
233 South Court Street, 2^nd Floor
Thunder Bay, ON  P7B 2X9
Phone: (807) 344-4575

Heather Jones
Métis Nations of Ontario
500 Old St. Patrick Street, Unit 3
Ottawa, ON  K1N 9T4
Phone: (800) 263-4889

Kelly Powless
Miziwe Biik Aboriginal Employment & Training
167 Gerrard Street East
Toronto, ON  M5A 2E4
Phone: 416-591-2310

Partnership Development Advisor Northern Ontario Native Tourism Association
200-710 Victoria Avenue East
Thunder Bay, ON  P7C 5P7
Phone: (807) 623-0497

Michael Fox
Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund
P.O. Box 20119
Green Acres PO
Thunder Bay, ON  P7E 6P2
Phone: (807) 623-5397

Donny Maracle
Ohwistha Capital Corporation
P.O. Box 1394
Cornwall, ON  K6H 5V4
Phone: (613) 396-2041

Mike Waddell
OMAA Development Corporation
452 Albert Street East
2^nd Floor, Walrus Building #1
Sault Ste Marie, ON  P6A 2J8
Phone: (705) 949-8220 ext .230