Participation

The minerals industry strongly supports efforts to facilitate the full participation of Indigenous Peoples in the economic opportunities it generates through training, development, employment, business development and mutually-beneficial partnerships. As a result of diverse efforts by a range of actors, for example, Indigenous employment in the minerals and metals industry increased 12% from 2007 to 2015.

There is great potential to further increase participation by Indigenous Peoples in the minerals industry, particularly given that Canada’s Indigenous population is younger and growing at a faster rate than the general population, and that a number of communities are located in close proximity to exploration projects and producing mines. The industry is also facing an imminent skills and labour shortage, and will require more than 106,000 new workers over the next decade.

PDAC recommends that the federal government support efforts to enhance the participation of Indigenous Peoples in the minerals industry through:

Foundational social investments that contribute to improved health and educational outcomes for Indigenous communities.
Targeted funds for skills training and entrepreneurship to assist Indigenous Peoples in securing employment and seizing business development opportunities generated by the industry.