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Aboriginal entrepreneurs in rural and remote communities will benefit from a federal government funding initiative aimed at strengthening and increasing the role of Aboriginal people in business development.

Federal funding of $168,300 was announced today by Betty Hinton, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs and Member of Parliament for Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo, on behalf of the Honourable Rona Ambrose, President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and the Minister of Western Economic Diversification, to support the Aboriginal Business Service Network Society of B.C. (ABSN) in Kamloops.

“Local businesses are economic drivers for B.C. communities, and this funding will best position Aboriginal entrepreneurs to share in Western Canada’s economic prospects,” said Ms. Hinton. “This investment will help meet the needs of Aboriginal entrepreneurs and businesses in a more inclusive and accessible way.”

Today’s investment will support the Aboriginal Business Service Network Society of B.C to deliver and expand its wide range of services. Funding will support eight projects including a bi-annual newsletter, an annual BC Aboriginal Economic Development Conference and additional REACH public access sites. REACH sites are public locations that provide Aboriginal entrepreneurs reliable access to Aboriginal specific resource material, advice and Internet services to develop their businesses, conduct research and network with their partners.

“This funding allows us to continue to provide unique and valuable services to Aboriginal people in BC,” said Chief Keith Matthew of the Simpcw First Nations and ABSN Board Member. “These services will provide assistance to hard-to reach aboriginal entrepreneurs in order to increase their participation in growing Aboriginal economic development.”

The Aboriginal Business Service Network Society of British Columbia is a non-profit organization operating in partnership with the support of Western Economic Diversification Canada. The ABSN is comprised of Aboriginal business service providers, federal, provincial and non-profit representatives, whose mandate is to assist Aboriginal people to realize their economic goals by improving access to and use of business information and services.

Western Economic Diversification Canada is a department of the Government of Canada that works in partnership with the provinces, industry associations and communities to promote the development and diversification of the western economy as well as to represent the interests of the West in national decision-making.

For additional information, contact:

Pierre Floréa
Director of Communications
Office of the President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of Western Economic Diversification
Telephone: (613) 943-1838

Geri Collins
ABSN Steering Committee
Tel: (250) 828-9833