BC Gov News

Legislation introduced today will allow provincial laws and regulations to apply to major commercial and industrial projects on federal Indian Reserve Land for the first time, announced Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation Minister Mary Polak.

A small storage, run-of-river hydro facility that will create economic opportunities and help a coastal First Nation get off diesel is one of 11 new projects supported by B.C.'s First Nations Clean Energy Business Fund (FNCEBF).

A unique joint decision-making council created through the Kunst’aa guu - Kunst’aayah Reconciliation Protocol between the Haida Nation and B.C. marks a significant achievement today, with the announcement of the new Allowable Annual Cut (AAC) for Haida Gwaii.

Aboriginal Health Physician Advisor Dr. Evan Adams has been appointed Deputy Provincial Health Officer, announced Minister of Health Michael de Jong, the First Nations Heath Council and the interim First Nations Health Authority.

B.C. has reached successful agreements with First Nations that deliver specific, practical benefits for communities, companies and the province by shortening project timelines, facilitating faster permits for projects, and creating new jobs, partnerships and training programs.

The Haisla Nation have joined the Coastal First Nations Reconciliation Protocol, a move that will create economic opportunities for the Haisla people and increase certainty over the coastal land base for the First Nation, industry and government.

Job training, joint ventures with industry and exploration of clean energy developments are some of the opportunities being pursued by 14 Aboriginal communities across B.C. through a total of $510,000 from the second round of the First Nations Clean Energy Business Fund.

The members of the new Advisory Council on Aboriginal Women were confirmed today by Mary Polak, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation.