Indigenous equity partnerships are crucial for the success of Canada’s natural resource sector, and, thanks to programs like AIOC’s loan guarantees, they are also on the rise.
“When it comes to building partnerships, equity ownership is where the conversation has shifted,” says AIOC CEO, Chana Martineau.
She further shares how AIOC and provincial and federal loan guarantee programs help address gaps in access to capital and support capacity building. She says, “Indigenous Nations and communities need access to the expertise to invest wisely and manage those investments effectively.”
The recent success and leadership of Cold Lake First Nations and their partnership with Elemental Energy—backed by a $22 million loan guarantee and investment loan from Canada Infrastructure Bank—on the Duchess Solar project is an example of how energy projects can bring together economic opportunities that align with community priorities and are informed by environmental stewardship, representing a win-win-win for all partners.
Read Shared Prosperity (pages 40–43) from Andrew Snook in Canadian Council of Indigenous Business’s- Indigenous Business Report Magazine: https://lnkd.in/eg2PfekR