September 27, 2018 – Vancouver, British Columbia: Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) has strengthened a long-standing partnership with the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) and Indigenous-led businesses across Canada by becoming an Aboriginal Procurement Champion.
Becoming an Aboriginal Procurement Champion solidifies FPAC’s commitment to procure more from Aboriginal businesses within their own supply chains as well as those of our prime suppliers. Certified Aboriginal businesses that would qualify under this program include those that are 51 per cent or more Indigenous-owned and controlled.
“Indigenous communities have for many decades played an important role in Canada’s forest products sector through their investments and entrepreneurial skills. Joint ventures and strategic partnerships are clearly on the rise across the country,” said FPAC CEO Derek Nighbor. “Through the Aboriginal Procurement Champions program, we are going beyond being one of the country’s leading employers of Indigenous peoples and are committing to advancing economic opportunities for Indigenous-led businesses, where possible, through our procurement activities.” Nighbor added.
“There are some 1,400 Indigenous-owned businesses in Canada’s forest products sector. At the same time, 12,500 Indigenous peoples work in the forest sector, making it one of the largest employers of Indigenous peoples in the country,” said CCAB President and CEO JP Gladu. “Collectively, Indigenous communities now hold over 10% of the national wood supply,” Gladu added.
Today’s announcement marks an extension of the collaborative efforts between FPAC and CCAB. In addition to jointly sponsoring the Aboriginal Business Leadership Award, FPAC, CCAB, and the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers (CCFM) also celebrate the accomplishments of Indigenous youth with the annual presentation of the Skills Award for Aboriginal Youth.
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FPAC provides a voice for Canada’s wood, pulp, and paper producers nationally and internationally in government, trade, and environmental affairs. The $69-billion-a-year forest products industry represents 2% of Canada’s GDP and is one of Canada’s largest employers operating in hundreds of communities and providing 230,000 direct jobs across the country.
For more information contact:
Cheryl Miltimore
Director, Communications and Labour Policy
Forest Products Association of Canada
cmiltimore@fpac.ca 613-563-1441 x303
Follow us on Twitter: @FPAC_APFC
