b'FUNDING INITIATIVESmining projects, says Greg Rickford, the provinces Minister of Indigenous A LONGSTANDING RELATIONSHIP Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation. I think if we do that, [we can] unleash that $70 million Employment for Indigenous Peoples within the minerals and metalsandchange that challenge into sector has increased by 40 per cent from 2011 to 2021, according to thean opportunity. Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC). The province has also set up $10 million PDAC\'s president Karen Rees says this makes the mineral industry thein funding over three years to create largest private-sector employer of Indigenous Peoples in Canada, andnew scholarship opportunities for First Nations postsecondary students inter-Indigenous-owned businesses in the sector are on the rise. ested in pursuing careers in professions tied to resource development. For First The proportion of Indigenous-owned and -operated businesses in industryNations, we have a profile in the more is also growing rapidly, often a result of strategic business partnershipsprofessionalized elements of miningand procurement contracts with proximal exploration and mining projects,scholarships to head off to university Rees says. in engineering and to be involved in environmental assessment processes Rees stresses that relationships need to be built directly between industryin a substantive way. Because increas-proponents and Indigenous communities, with governments providingingly, First Nations are leading these foundational supports that equip all parties with the knowledge and toolsprocesses, Rickford says.necessary to grow those relationships holistically.Historically, the province has had a One massive (and controversial) economic opportunity for Indigenous$1-billion fund that was used primarily communities within the mining sector is the development of the Ring offor large-scale electrification proj-Fire, a vast mineral-rich region in northern Ontario.ects, where the equity positions of the First Nations were compelling, explains Rickford. He says the provin-As noted by Greg Rickford, Ontario\'s Minister of Indigenous Affairs andcial government will continue to ensure First Nations Economic Reconciliation,"The construction jobs alone forthat equity partnerships in electrifica-the Ring of Fire (that is to build out legacy road access that can handletion or electricity projects and battery commercial, industrial and private transportation) that has electrificationstorage are possible, but the addi-and/or other sources of energy going up, and other broadband, is going totional funding will help generate addi-create close to 10,000 jobs on its own. tional opportunities for Indigenous communities and businesses. This will We\'re talking about an economic boom here that has more features to itinclude legacy infrastructure for the than simply just building a mine. It requires legacy infrastructure, and that\'screation of minesspecifically critical how we\'ve been able to work with First Nations in northern Ontario on amineralsand equity positions in the number of different projects. mines themselves. Theprovince,addsRickford,was already providing additional funding through its contingency funds for projects related to resource develop-ment with Indigenous communities, Fully integratedDesign, development andElectrical InfrastructureSpecialtyENGINEERING mechanical and electricaldelivery of engineered,Design Solutions forlighting design consulting engineeringsingle-source EnergyPower Transmission andconsultancy. ENERGY services. EncompassesPerformance ContractsDistribution for Utility,LIGHTING MCW Hemisphere and(EPCs) throughout theIndustrial, Commercial MCW Maricor. Canadian Public Sector. and Institutional clients.For any project questions, please reach out to: indigenous@mcw.com www.mcw.com24A CCIB PUBLICATIONFall 2025'