How are we working together?
Engagement with First Nation partners is ongoing across flagship initiatives from the StrongerBC Economic Plan:
- The Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation continues to maintain and strengthen relationships with the First Nations Centre of Excellence in Economic Development through regular monthly meetings and facilitating connections with key ministry and government partners, provincially and federally, to explore opportunities for collaboration and fostering strategic partnerships.
- Under the Mass Timber Action Plan, the Office of Mass Timber Implementation and the First Nations Forestry Council co-developed the First Nations Engagement Strategy, establishing shared principles, goals and a work plan. This partnership also facilitated the Dinner and Discussion Table on Mass Timber, which the First Nations Forestry Council hosted with financial support and implementation assistance from the Office of Mass Timber Implementation.
- Innovate BC secured new federal support to extend the Integrated Marketplace until October 2026. All businesses, including Indigenous-owned companies, are invited to participate in testbed/projects planning process. Testbeds can also access the Integrated Marketplace to support engagement with Indigenous partners and communities.
- As part of government’s ongoing work on trade diversification, the Export Navigator program has provided support to 35 Indigenous businesses, including 16 that were referred to third-party service providers for 2024-25. The program has two specialist advisors specifically dedicated to supporting Indigenous-owned businesses, one in the Lower Mainland and the second supporting all other Indigenous-owned businesses across the province.
- The B.C. Maritime Industries Infrastructure Modernization and Expansion Grant program is administered by the Association of British Columbia Marine Industries. The results from the most recent application intake were announced in September 2024. In total, there were 152 project applications and 41 funded projects. Economic opportunities for Indigenous communities and people have been identified across 60% of projects.
- The B.C. Centre for Agritech Innovation has completed one project and one training program benefiting Indigenous participants and their communities. Three ongoing projects will create 11 Highly Qualified Personnel jobs, five additional jobs, and train eight Indigenous Highly Qualified Personnel. Moreover, these projects will help two Indigenous businesses increase their revenue.
Are there challenges?
There are no significant risks to the overall Economic Plan. However, some individual flagship action risks are being monitored and mitigated to support successful implementation:
- Capacity funding may not be sufficient for Indigenous governments and organizations to consider, participate in and activate opportunities in the mass timber sector.
- Innovate BC may need to do further communication and outreach to better ensure that Indigenous communities at testbeds are aware of Integrated Marketplace opportunities.
The ministry is mitigating these risks through outreach and supporting Indigenous partners with wayfinding. The ministry maintains transparent communication with partners, seeking feedback, and adapting strategies as insights are gained. The ministry is also supporting the First Nations Centre of Excellence with securing federal funding.
The Office of Mass Timber Implementation identified an obstacle in the lack of flexibility in existing funding mechanisms to collaborate with Indigenous partners in policy development work. The office works closely with First Nation organizations due to their technical expertise in economic development. They are exploring potential funding mechanisms to support collaborative work with Indigenous partners.
Highlights
The BC Assembly of First Nations officially launched the First Nations Centre of Excellence in the latter half of 2023 and appointed the first CEO, Harlan Schilling. In 2024-25, the centre expanded the team to include four people and then turned its focus to strategic planning. The centre has developed a five-year strategic plan with a focus on international trade relations, knowledge sharing and best practices, communications and promotions, service delivery to First Nation companies, and a sovereign wealth fund. Additionally, the centre developed a service delivery framework in collaboration with the ministries of Jobs Economic Development and Innovation, and Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation. The service delivery model goals are policy collaboration, convening, path finding and market navigation, business development and strategic planning support, and market analysis.
In April 2024, the Office of Mass Timber Implementation and the First Nations Forestry Council hosted a dinner and discussion with 14 First Nation Chiefs and leaders to discuss mass timber and launch the First Nations Mass Timber Engagement Strategy.
This strategy aims to build reciprocal relationships, grow First Nations leadership in the mass timber ecosystem, and promote the use of local wood in culturally appropriate and energy-efficient infrastructure.
The Office of Mass Timber Implementation also held five information sessions in partnership with provincial and federal funders and the Forestry Council. These sessions, attended by 26 First Nation participants, provided insights into mass timber manufacturing and funding opportunities. Participants connected directly with funders to support business development, expansion, and capital purchases.
The Integrated Marketplace provides an opportunity for Indigenous groups and businesses to be directly involved in bringing innovation and technology adoption to their operations and communities. This has been demonstrated by Metlakatla First Nation through their involvement with Gat Leedm Logistics in the Zero Emissions Vehicle Long-Haul Trucking project at the Prince Rupert Port Authority testbed. The project will help to remove financial and information barriers for adopting and investing in innovative clean tech solutions by Gat Leedm and other trucking companies.
Previous years’ progress
Highlights
The Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation (JEDI) continues to collaborate with First Nation partners in the development and implementation of the 10 JEDI-led flagship initiatives from the StrongerBC Economic Plan that was released in 2022. This collaboration occurs on an initiative-by-initiative basis in recognition that the StrongerBC Economic Plan involves a diverse range of industries, sectors, and initiatives that each contribute to clean and inclusive economic growth.
An important step taken to support continued collaboration this past year was the successful launch of the new First Nations Centre of Excellence for Economic Development. The creation of a Centre of Excellence is identified as a flagship initiative in the StrongerBC Economic Plan and is being supported by the Province through an initial investment of $1.2 million. Established under the leadership of the BC Assembly of First Nations, this new Centre of Excellence is an independent, non-political, First Nations-led institution that will provide services and supports to First Nations as they pursue their economic development priorities. A key focus for the Province and the Centre of Excellence in 2023/24 was strategic planning, securing long-term funding, and setting a strong foundation for ongoing dialogue on the long-term direction of the economy.
A sector-specific example of strong collaboration in the implementation of the StrongerBC Economic Plan is the implementation of the Mass Timber Action Plan. Through a collaborative effort with the First Nations Forestry Council, there has been regular engagement this past year with First Nations to explore, activate, or expand opportunities for greater participation in the mass timber supply chain and manufacturing.
How are we working together?
Engagement with First Nation partners is ongoing across flagship initiatives from the StrongerBC Economic Plan. This includes:
- JEDI, through the Office of Mass Timber Implementation, continues to collaborate with First Nations communities, the BC Assembly of First Nations, the First Nations Summit, and the First Nations Forestry Council on the implementation of the Mass Timber Action Plan. As an example, JEDI hosted a series of “Mass Timber Manufacturing & Funding Opportunities” information sessions in Fall 2023 for First Nations. The information sessions were specifically designed to center the issues identified by First Nation partners as most important, specifically the federal and provincial funding programs available to First Nations to explore, activate, or expand opportunities in the mass timber supply chain and manufacturing.
- JEDI has been advancing dialogue with the First Nations Business Development Association on policy issues related to the identification of lands that can support sustainable industrial activity. These policy discussions have led to a larger opportunity to partner with the First Nations Business Development Association through a new Collaborative Consultative Working Agreement. This proposed agreement is meant to create new channels to support an ongoing dialogue with First Nation Development Corporations about economic opportunities across BC.
- The Province launched a new Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Centre of Excellence to provide business owners with additional tools to attract new markets and investments. The ESG Centre of Excellence was developed through engagement with First Nation organizations and business leaders with a view to incorporate Indigenous priorities and perspectives.
JEDI continues to establish relationships with Indigenous partners consistent with commitments made in the StrongerBC Economic Plan to create forums for ongoing dialogue with Indigenous Peoples on the long-term direction of the economy.
Are there challenges?
JEDI is still in the early stages of engagement with First Nation partners on some flagship initiatives that are identified in the StrongerBC Economic Plan. In part, this is due to the diverse range of industries, sectors, and initiatives in the StrongerBC Economic Plan. A key focus for JEDI is working with First Nation partners to determine high-priority areas that will benefit from deeper and ongoing dialogue. The new First Nations Centre of Excellence for Economic Development will be an important partner in the identification of sectors and initiatives that are of highest priority and interest to First Nations.
From the Mass Timber Action Plan, there is a risk that First Nation governments and organizations may not have the capacity to consider and fully activate opportunities in the mass timber sector. To help mitigate this risk, the Office of Mass Timber Implementation aligns JEDI’s work along existing relationships and tables between government and Indigenous peoples, with a focus on wayfinding and introducing suitable funding programs to Indigenous partners. JEDI also develops and implements approaches and resources that centre the interests and needs of Indigenous partners.