Aboriginal Partnerships
Voisey's Bay Nickel Company
Building strong, mutually beneficial relationships with Labrador's aboriginal communities is crucial to the success of our Voisey's Bay project.
The concept of partnering to achieve common goals is the foundation of the Impact and Benefits Agreements (IBAs) between Voisey's Bay Nickel Company Limited (VBNC), our wholly-owned subsidiary, and Innu Nation and Labrador Inuit Association (LIA) signed in 2002. Legally binding agreements, the IBAs establish targets for Innu and Inuit employment and training, promote aboriginal business, and involve aboriginal people in environmental monitoring.
In 2004, we continued to fulfill our responsibilities to our aboriginal partners and to encourage the development of strong relationships based on trust and respect.
2004 PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS
- Continued to honour our commitments as outlined in the IBAs with LIA and Innu Nation.
- Continued to implement training and workplace experience initiatives in partnership with the Joint Voisey's Bay Employment and Training Authority.
- Employed 580 Innu and Inuit on the Voisey's Bay project, surpassing our expectations for aboriginal employment.
- Continued to build relationships with aboriginal communities, such as working closely with LIA and Innu Nation on training, as we prepare to make the transition from the construction phase to operational readiness.
- Awarded contracts valued at approximately $380 million (Cdn. $496 million) to aboriginal companies.
- Continued to work with the Government of Canada to develop initiatives to build capacity in aboriginal communities through training and business development activities.
- Announced a total contribution of $400,000 (Cdn. $500,000) over the next five years toward the development of a new community centre at Nain, Labrador, to promote aboriginal culture and develop new suicide-prevention programs.
- Initiated negotiations on a Shipping Agreement with LIA covering a broad range of topics related to shipping through marine waters covered in the final Inuit Land Claim Agreement.
2005 GOALS
- Continue to utilize the time and activities of the project construction phase to prepare the maximum number of aboriginal employees for safe employment in the first year of operations.
- Implement an operations workforce recruitment strategy designed to maximize aboriginal employment at start-up.
- Complete Shipping Agreement with LIA.
- Continue to implement the IBAs in a timely, practicable fashion and in accordance with VBNC's commitments.
- Further develop a strong and resilient relationship with LIA and Innu Nation leadership and members, characterized by an ability to understand project needs.
- Involve Innu and Inuit businesses in the operations phase contract opportunities within the project's business model parameters and build aboriginal business capacity.
- Develop a Community Well-Being strategy and work in partnership with existing service providers in Innu and Inuit communities.
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