Collaborative Efforts Urged for Indigenous Participation in Atlantic Canada's Offshore Wind Sector

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A report emphasizes the need for offshore wind developers in Atlantic Canada to engage Indigenous businesses early to foster economic reconciliation and enhance workforce participation.

HALIFAX — A recent report emphasizes the necessity for offshore wind developers in Atlantic Canada to prioritize early collaboration with Indigenous businesses to foster economic reconciliation within the sector. This report, produced by the Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs, underscores the vital role Indigenous communities can play in the burgeoning offshore wind industry, especially since they have already established a presence in various onshore energy projects throughout the region.
"Early engagement and consultation...is crucial for identifying partners and cultivating enduring commercial relationships based on mutual trust and respect for Indigenous treaty rights," the congress articulated in a recent statement. The report, which was drafted by the independent Atlantic Economic Council, highlights that Indigenous enterprises possess a strong foundation for collaboration through equity partnerships, community-focused workforce training, and supply chain agreements.
Representing 33 First Nations across Atlantic Canada, Quebec, and Maine, the chiefs assert that such collaborative efforts will stimulate economic growth and create job opportunities, aiding the sector in fulfilling its labor demands. Additionally, the report advocates for offshore developers to facilitate Indigenous participation by providing smaller contracts and forming joint ventures. There is also a recommendation for governments and developers to formulate benefit and revenue agreements that support reinvestment into Indigenous communities.
Bob Gloade, a co-chair of the congress and chief of the Millbrook First Nation in Nova Scotia, remarked, "While we have witnessed significant progress in advancing economic reconciliation in renewable energy projects and other sectors, there remains substantial work ahead. A dedicated focus on fostering integration between Indigenous and non-Indigenous businesses in the offshore wind energy sector is essential."
The timing of the report coincides with Nova Scotia's leadership in the development of offshore wind farms across Canada. Premier Tim Houston has put forth an ambitious $60-billion project named Wind West, which aims to generate as much as five gigawatts of electricity by 2033 during its initial phase and potentially over 40 gigawatts by 2050.
In October, the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Energy Regulator initiated the province’s first call-for-bids process to license offshore wind energy endeavors. The report highlights that provincial offshore assessments for both Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador already incorporate Indigenous perspectives, aligning with the 2015 recommendations from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which called for corporate sectors to embrace the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. This declaration stresses the importance of Indigenous economic self-sufficiency and meaningful involvement in decisions regarding natural resources.
The report draws attention to successful examples of Indigenous engagement in offshore wind projects in other nations, such as the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe in Massachusetts, which entered into a tribal benefit agreement with Vineyard Offshore to collaborate on the Vineyard Wind 2 project scheduled for March 2024.
On the onshore front, several energy projects in the Atlantic region have already initiated shared equity arrangements with Indigenous communities, exemplified by the EverWind Fuels clean energy project located at Point Tupper in Cape Breton. This specific project is being developed in partnership with the Paqtnkek, Potlotek, and Membertou First Nations, incorporating shared equity and benefits agreements aimed at bolstering Indigenous ownership, training, employment, and procurement.
In terms of provincial financial support, the report indicates that Quebec, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia have each rolled out Indigenous loan guarantee programs designed to facilitate equity participation in significant projects. Additionally, Ontario and Alberta have established programs offering up to $3 billion each to promote Indigenous equity participation in major developments. However, the report highlights a notable gap in financing tools specifically for offshore wind development and other large-scale investments in the Atlantic region, as no equivalent programs currently exist.

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