Ref. #2-3720
OTTAWA, ONTARIO (October 16, 2012) – The following statement was released today by the Honourable John Duncan, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, to mark the closing of the Aboriginal Entrepreneurs Conference and Tradeshow 2012:
"On behalf of the Harper Government, I would like to congratulate the Aboriginal Human Resource Council for organizing a very successful gathering.
Over 360 participants, up from 220 at last year’s event, came together for this year’s Aboriginal Entrepreneurs Conference and Tradeshow. As this conference demonstrated, the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in Aboriginal businesses and communities.
The theme of this year’s conference — Major Projects, Major Opportunities: Aboriginal Participation in Canada’s Development Projects — emphasized the tremendous economic opportunity Canada’s natural resources sector presents for our country’s young and growing Aboriginal population. Through partnerships and targeted investments in community infrastructure, education and training, our Government continues to create the conditions for young Aboriginal people to find and keep jobs in this important sector of the Canadian economy.
This conference is an excellent opportunity for groups to network and reap the results. Conference organizers and partners collaborated this year to support the participation of First Nation, Métis and Inuit community representatives who stand to benefit from these major projects. This year’s conference was also innovative in its efforts to be a ‘green conference’, through its use of electronic and social media, and through the development of a legacy website to share outcomes and offer learning modules on major projects to Aboriginal entrepreneurs.
Our Government will continue to develop the partnerships that have allowed this important event to grow and innovate. I would like to invite Aboriginal entrepreneurs and interested parties to attend the 2013 Aboriginal Entrepreneurs Conference and Tradeshow."
Minister's Office
Jan O'Driscoll
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable John Duncan
819-997-0002
Media Relations
Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada
819-953-1160
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