Mediaboss Marketing

Jobs Minister Shirley Bond says the Liberals jobs plan is working, but shes added a few more pillars to prop it up, including a sector for First Nations.

Ms. Bond released an update on the plan Tuesday, including a renewed economic blueprint for the province that makes specific mention of aboriginal participation in the economy.

First Nations, international trade, small business and manufacturing sectors join eight existing key sectors, such as agrifoods, forestry and energy.

It isnt that we havent done it before, Ms. Bond said. Weve made that part of the jobs plan, but I think its appropriate now to look at how we engage their work force, how we support their economic endeavours so it will be a new highlight of the jobs plan.

The resource development landscape across Canada has changed dramatically since a Supreme Court of Canada ruling in June recognized land-title rights for the Tsilhqotin Nation in the B.C. Interior.

Nowhere could the ruling have a greater effect than in the westernmost province, where most aboriginal bands have no treaties with the Crown and where every inch of land is subject to First Nations land claims.

Ms. Bond said B.C. has exceeded its target for non-treaty benefit-sharing agreements, in the absence of progress in treaty talks with the federal government.

The Liberal cabinet met with chiefs and aboriginal leaders last month to discuss the path forward from the Tsilhqotin decision.

From my perspective, when Im looking for a work force of the future, almost 50 per cent of First Nations in British Columbia are under the age of 25, so they are a significant component in terms of our work force of the future, Ms. Bond said.

The focus on First Nations is one of the few bright spots in the three-year update, said Opposition New Democrat jobs critic Shane Simpson.

More:
B.C. Liberals add First Nations, small business to jobs plan