b'PROCUREMENT Additional research should beit very difficult to gauge how the govern- The 5 Pillarsconducted to identify key barriers toment is doing overall, and the result is Aboriginal business participation inan information vacuum that impedes federal supply chains, both from theproductive change. of CCABsperspective of Aboriginal business and government procurement officers.CCAB feels strongly that the government AboriginalMORE TRANSPARENCY needs to enhance reporting requirements within its own Procurement Strategy for ProcurementWhile CCABs Supply Change initiative isAboriginal Business (PSAB). Increasing off to a running start, it faces challenges allgovernment procurement could learn Strategythe same. A lack of mandated reportingfrom the success of private sector procure-requirements for federal departments,ment champions. By setting clear targets for instance, remains one of the biggestand measuring them annually, government obstacles. This lack of transparency makesdepartments would start a good path to AboriginalProcurementChampions:Ahigh-profile groupofcorporations committed to increasing oppor-tunities for Aboriginal busi-nesses to participate in their supply chains. Included in thisIntelligent Energy For a Greener Planetgroup are a growing number of Canadas leading and most progressive companies.AboriginalProcurementCampaign:ACanada-wide campaign that leverages the profile of CCABs Procurement Champions to encourage other organizations to follow suit.Certified Aboriginal Businesses(CAB): A designation created by CCAB to recognize businesses that have been independently pre-certified as being at least 51 per cent Aboriginal owned and controlled. The number of CABs has doubled in recent years and is the largest, fastest-growing directory of certified Aboriginal businesses in Canada. AboriginalProcurementJohn Brace, former CEO, poses with Mike Crawley, current CEO,and Tim Richardson, Manager of Indigenous Relations, in front of Marketplace: A two-way direc- James Jackos painting, The Spirit of Creation and Turtle Islandtory consisting of CABs that can be readily engaged by corpo-rations, and of procurementNorthland Power has a strong track record of working with Indigenous partners opportunities posted by corpo- to create clean and green energy projects.rations to connect Aboriginal businesses to opportunities.We own and operate many renewable energy projects. Among them are two onshore wind farms and four solar farms in Ontario, which we developed Aboriginal Procurement Besttogether with our Indigenous partners. Practices:ThesharingofWe are looking to move into other provinces! Contact us to discuss your ideas.Aboriginal procurement success stories and lessons learned to promote industry collabora- CONTACT UStion and increase Aboriginal procurement outcomes. Tim Richardson - tim.richardson@northlandpower.com|Northlandpower.comAboriginal BUSINESS REPORT17'