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Elders, Chief Elliott, councillors, community members, Mayor Hutchins, ladies and gentlemen.
I am happy to be here this afternoon in the Stz'uminus First Nation, on the traditional territory of the Coast Salish People.
This is an exciting day for your community. In partnership with the Stz'uminus First Nation, the Harper Government is proud to announce over $1.4 million toward this water and wastewater infrastructure project.
Thanks to contributions from the Stz'uminus First Nation, the Harper Government, and in coordination with the Town of Ladysmith, the community will be connected to Ladysmith's water and wastewater system. This critical infrastructure investment will benefit this First Nation and surrounding areas, enabling the development of a number of commercial and residential initiatives, both on and off reserve. Specifically, a 25-hectare space of designated mixed-use commercial and retail buildings, a 150-home subdivision and an 18-hole golf course will be developed as a result of this new infrastructure project. This investment will also enable the Stz'uminus First Nation to pursue other economic development initiatives that could benefit from this infrastructure investment.
We're making similar investments in First Nations across Canada, investments that demonstrate the action our government is taking to improve the lives of individual First Nations members and stimulate economic growth in First Nation communities. Between 2006 and 2014, the Government of Canada will have invested approximately $3 billion in water and wastewater facilities in First Nation communities.
As we are seeing here in Stz'uminus these projects translate to opportunities and partnerships that will enable Aboriginal people to participate more fully our country's economy. Our government believes that increasing Aboriginal participation in the Canadian economy is the most effective way to improve the well-being and quality of life of Aboriginal people in Canada. It is also important to Canada's future economic prosperity. All Canadians benefit from strong, healthy and self-reliant Aboriginal peoples and communities.
Our Government is also helping First Nations increase economic development opportunities by assuming control over their reserve land and resources through the First Nations Land Management regime. I'm proud to say that the Stz'uminus First Nation was one of 18 First Nations chosen to begin a process of opting out of 34 land-related sections of the Indian Act to begin managing their land, resources and environment according to their own land codes, laws and policies. This is an exciting opportunity for the Stz'uminus First Nation and I know this important step will allow you to operate at the speed of business, creating economic growth and job opportunities, leading to a more self-sufficient community.
I'd also like to acknowledge another important milestone in this project – the successful Memorandum of Understanding between the Stz'uminus First Nation and the Town of Ladysmith. Often, local municipalities are important partners in developing an economic development vision for a community. I congratulate the Stz'uminus First Nation and the Town of Ladysmith for developing a successful working relationship that will help shape the local economy and benefit the region as a whole.
Projects like this one are central to our government's vision of economic development, as outlined in our Federal Framework for Aboriginal Economic Development. The driver for the Framework is to enable First Nations and all Aboriginal communities to seize real, significant and sustainable economic opportunities.
Today's announcement is another example of our government's strong commitment to working with First Nations partners to improve living conditions and create healthier, more self-sufficient First Nation communities.
Thank you.
