"Preferential contracting, employment, and training....."

Am I the only one who has a problem with this statement?

Mercenary....It means that the rest of are second class. It means a two tier system. It means that our government has allowed natives to directly control every land decision in our province,wheather it affects them or not. We are being held for ransom in our own land. Pay-Pay-Pay and everything will go along just fine. I don't blame the natives, they are just playing within the rules we have made.

"I don't blame the natives,they are just playing within the rules that we have made."
Amen giterdun...bang on!

Typically there is upwards of 90% unemployment on these reserves [notably built for Canadas' second class citizens]so when I read that they are going to finally have some employment opportunities provided I think it great!!

You always read all the whining about:

""the agreement provides for preferential contracting, employment and training, academic bursaries, and participation in the environmental review.""

And not one of the whiners notes that if they are provided the opportunity to gain employment they will no longer be a burden on our welfare system....sometimes it doesn't seem to matter how hard BC natives try they will always be denegraded by prejudices...whether being self supporting or sucking off the government teat.

There are no guarantee's the deal will actually work, Jim13135.
It has worked for some bands,and not for others.
It will continue to be hit and miss until we do something about the restrictive reserve system itself.
Our government/s have created a system that allows them not to work if they don't want to,and they can survive just fine.
So where is the incentive?
These kinds of deals are not new, there have been lots of them inked with the same opportunities.
Suprisingly,they are not always all that successful, and we need to figure out why that is?
While the employment percentages have improved,progress is slow.
We cannot always assume the problem is our fault and blame it on predjudices etc.

Andyfreeze, perhaps it will not work but it's still a damn sight better than what happened with the Prosperity project.

Here we have a positive report on a mining company and a FN band coming to a mutually beneficial agreement. Creating jobs, creating wealth, creating opportunity that wouldn't be there otherwise so there is no problem to blame on prejudices.

The prejudices are coming from those that cannot see the positive in this story and instead choose to whine about the agreement that was made.

Jim13135: You're so far off the mark that it ain't funny. MY concern is that the best person won't be hired for the job. If you are the best man (or woman) for the job then I don't care what 'race' you happen to be....

Lets quit speculating and beating each other up here.. The merchant of truth will be when or IF ground gets broken and gold dore is eventually poured.

Any pre arangement agreement or deal like this with FN groups is a step in the right direction for the mining industry. A step forward for FNs and a step forward for local economy.Especially when they get to participate in the environment review.

The big pushback on the Bonanza Ledge project is coming from the local residencs in Wells. Check out the letters with the BC Environment assessment office in the link below.
http://a100.gov.bc.ca/appsdata/epic/html/deploy/epic_project_doc_list_69_r_pub.html

Mercenary.....who cares? If citizens of this country get gainful employment...who cares what race they are?? Only those that are fixated on a persons race would care.

The next thing we know you'll be pizzed because they hired a woman..or a gay..or someone with a work visa...

Prejudice is a funny thing, eh?

any opportunity to improve the economy in the area should be applauded!! Jobs for anyone- be they purple, black, white or whatever should not make any difference!
We all bleed the same color and thats the bottom line.
Sorry to see others are still afraid of others getting a chance to better themselves.

Jim: Do you know how to read? I only ask because you certainly cannot understand the concept or content of my post.

My God man....if you're gonna troll...then do it right....

>>>>"Preferential contracting, employment, and training....."

Am I the only one who has a problem with this statement?

It seems pretty clear...you have a problem with local FN residents being given first preference when they are hiring for the jobs. AND you assume that means they will be hired even if there is a more qualified non-FN candidate for the job.

What difference does it make to you? Why do you have a problem with it?? Is it only because of their skin colour??

Jim: I have a problem with ANY group of individuals given preferential treatment over everyone else. That is what they mean when they say 'preferential'
I would have the same problem if the statement was said in regards to anybody......

My God....the education system in this country has really gone to the dogs. Obviously, reading and comprehension skills are lacking, big time.

They have a "preferential" suite in the upstairs of the big banks downtown where they give special or "prefered" clients below average interest rates and more flexible lending options. Is this not a problem as well? Put your theory to work and pull your investments/savings/mortgate or what ever you have from this "group of individuals" because they are giving others "preferntial" treatment. Sorry this isnt a personal attack on you but lets call a spade a spade here.

Right now the reality to get a mine up and going is consultations and agreements with First Nations who have an interst in an area. Its no different than if they were goign to mine under a farmers land..They still have to consult and provide resoanlabe compensation. And yes there are FN groups who abuse this system but its a rare deal like this case where you have one that jumps on board right away looking for oppertunity. One thing about FN goups is they spend their money locally which is good for the local economy.. Thats less money that ends up in an account down in Toronto which doesnt do us any good.

PS readinga nd compensation skulls whacking big tyme?

HuKt on FhonIks WuRkT FuR MeEeeeee!!!