Some facts about the Canadian Council of Chief Executives’ proposal to premiers

THE CANADIAN PRESS

OTTAWA — The Canadian Council of Chief Executives is giving the premiers a paper on Monday that outlines their proposal for a national energy strategy. Stronger partnerships with aboriginal peoples are a key element in such a strategy. Their main points:

- Canada’s richest resources are found near aboriginal communities, leading to “legitimate concerns” for land claims and environmental impact.

- Governments and aboriginal leaders need to step up, improve education, work with the business community for training, and design tri-partite solutions to underemployment.

- Engagement with aboriginal communities needs to start early on in energy and resource projects, with “new thinking” on how to fund and enable consultation.

- Business has good reason to finance and invest in business acumen in aboriginal communities.

13:10ET 15-07-12