Archived - Aboriginal Economic Development Strategic Partnerships Initiative

General information

Lead department: Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada

Federal partner organizations: Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada; Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada; Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency; Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec; Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario; Fisheries and Oceans Canada; Employment and Social Development Canada; Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, including FedNor; Natural Resources Canada; Parks Canada; Status of Women Canada; Western Economic Diversification Canada; Environment and Climate Change Canada; Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency; Health Canada

Non-federal and non-governmental partners: Not applicable

Start date of the horizontal initiative: June 17, 2010

End date of the horizontal initiative: Ongoing

Total federal funding allocation (start to end date) in dollars: $85,500,000 over five years (ongoing), plus an additional $61,000,000 over five years (2014-2019) for the West Coast Energy Initiative — Total Grants and Contributions and Operations and Maintenance

Total federal planned spending to date (dollars): Currently there are 16 multi-year Initiatives under administration by INAC and a number of other government departments, each with different start and completion dates. Each year, the budgets for both SPI General ($14.45 million), and West Coast Energy infrastructure developments (budget varies by fiscal year), are fully committed.

Total federal actual spending to date (dollars): Strategic Partnerships Initiative: $14,450,000 annually; West Coast Energy: $40.3 million spent over the first three-years of the initiative (2014–2017).

Funding contributed by non-federal and non-governmental partners: Not applicable

Governance structures: Central to the governance structure of SPI is the Director General Investment Committee (DGIC). The DGIC includes membership from all SPI member departments with a core voting membership to make final funding decisions on initiatives seeking funding. The DGIC validates and prioritizes opportunities, taking a whole-of-government approach to investments under the program. It also identifies relevant federal government departments that have a role to play in supporting any given initiative, and ensures that they work together with Indigenous groups to advance these opportunities. The DGIC completes a review of detailed proposals from federal departments on opportunities for consideration under the program.

Contact information

• Director
• Strategic Partnerships Initiative
• Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada
• Telephone: 819-994-7219

Results information

Description of the horizontal initiative: With a focus on community economic readiness, the Strategic Partnerships Initiative supports Indigenous participation in the economy, with a particular emphasis on the emerging opportunities in the resource development sectors, including forestry, fisheries, mining, energy and agriculture. The program also supports other key economic development opportunities in areas such as shipbuilding, and tourism.

A key component of the Federal Framework for Aboriginal Economic Development, SPI provides a coordinated federal response to existing and emerging Indigenous economic development opportunities. The program builds partnerships among participating federal departments and agencies, Indigenous communities, provincial and territorial governments and the private sector to help Indigenous peoples take advantage of complex market-driven opportunities in key and emerging economic sectors. The initiative's funding is designed to fill gaps that cannot be addressed by existing programs.

SPI also helps to build closer partnerships with non-federal partners, including provincial and territorial governments, the private sector and Indigenous individuals, organizations, businesses and communities. These partnerships help bring together the people and resources required for Indigenous communities to take advantage of key economic development opportunities across all regions of the country.

West Coast Energy: In June 2014, a coordinated government response was launched with the objective of building Indigenous support for energy projects. Part of the response included the expansion of the Strategic Partnerships Initiative, which will provide the Government of Canada with the resources needed to enhance Indigenous participation in West Coast Energy infrastructure development.

Funding is being used in four priority areas to help build Indigenous support for energy projects. These include:

• Early and ongoing engagement — to develop and maintain a principled dialogue with Indigenous groups on energy development
• Environmental participation — to mitigate concerns with cumulative effects and ensure environmental sustainability
• Employment and business opportunities — to maximize Indigenous economic participation in energy projects
• Fish habitat restoration — to encourage sustainable development where pipelines and terminals cross watercourses

Ring of Fire: Since 2010, the federal government has pursued a coordinated, whole-of-government approach to support the development of the Ring of Fire, a mineral rich region in Northern Ontario. Early investments focused on helping First Nations in the region prepare for mining development. With the economic downturn in the minerals sector and persistent socio-economic challenges facing First Nations communities, the strategic focus has shifted to addressing the underlying pre-conditions to economic development, namely individual and community wellbeing. Federal departments and the Province of Ontario are working collaboratively with Matawa First Nations and NGO partners in areas such as comprehensive community planning, strengthening financial management and governance, and client-centered case management. SPI investments are also supporting the Community Wellbeing Pilot Project with 3 remote Matawa First Nations. The Pilot is implementing a place-based, whole-of-government partnership approach with First Nations to address critical needs and priorities, funded through a Single Window using the horizontal mechanisms under SPI.

Fiscal year of planned completion of next evaluation: The Evaluation of the Strategic Partnerships Initiative is planned to be completed in fiscal year 2017–2018. NRCan will be leading the evaluation.

Shared outcome of federal partners: SPI supports a horizontal approach to federal investments that ensures these investments align with and target market-driven opportunities. It also ensures that the Government of Canada is able to anticipate, plan for and engages in opportunities; is able to maximize the results of federal investments; and is better positioned to lever funds from non-federal sources. SPI, where appropriate, can use a single-window approach (shared application, monitoring and reporting) to federal investments in identified priorities and addresses program gaps that might preclude Indigenous participation in economic opportunities. This process allows funds to flow from multiple programs and departments through one federal lead department in support of the initiative.

Performance indicators: Value of federal and non-federal investments leveraged under the community readiness phase of the Strategic Partnership Initiative.

Targets: 1:1.5 leveraging over three years (For every $1 Strategic Partnership Initiative investment an additional $1.50 is leveraged from other sources including private and other public sectors) by March 31, 2017.

Data source and frequency of monitoring and reporting: Quarterly Reporting is provided by the lead department, including financial and project-specific information on each initiative. Annual reporting includes year-end financial reporting, a Project Summary Report, and an Annual Progress Report related to the activities, deliverables and outcomes achieved is also provided.

Expected outcome or result of non-federal and non-governmental partners: Not applicable

Planning information

Planning highlights: SPI is a federal horizontal initiative designed to further the objectives of the Federal Framework for Aboriginal Economic Development by ensuring:

• opportunities for investment are systematically targeted and assessed;
• willing partners with complementary experience and resources can work collaboratively to take advantage of economic opportunities available to Indigenous Canadians;
• clear direction, greater coordination, better collaboration and increased linkages are made among federal initiatives across departments and agencies to advance priority opportunities; and
• partners involved in specific projects continue to be engaged throughout the development, implementation and completion of the project.