Calls for clearer rules for Cree-owned companies dominated Mistissini’s Economic Dialogue conference January 28, as nearly 100 community entrepreneurs gathered to discuss local businesses and shared priorities.
According to Andrew Coon, Mistissini’s coordinator of Economic Development, the event was created to strengthen communication between the Economic Development office, local businesses and community leadership.
“Council wanted us to keep a closer relationship with our businesses,” Coon explained. “This dialogue lets us update our entrepreneurs face to face on what’s happening at the regional level, and anything that involves their businesses.”
Coon said three important topics were addressed: capital projects in Mistissini, Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ) licencing, and the Cree Economic Prioritization Agreement.
In his opinion, the latter was the most significant as discussions focussed on what the Cree Nation Government’s Department of Commerce and Industry considers a “local business, even though we establish a lot of partnerships.”
“The council wanted to hear the opinion of all the stakeholders regarding the Prioritization Agreement, because it will make a decision either to adopt it or not,” Coon explained.
He added the Prioritization Agreement aims to provide transparency and fairness so that local Cree entrepreneurs can understand their rights and priorities.
The discussion revealed a strong interest in the agreement, and participants requested another session dedicated solely to its review, so everyone can understand the terms and express concerns.
“This agreement affects everyone,” Coon said. “Giving people space to talk, to speak their truth, that’s what helps.”
Tim Matoush, president of Matoush Inc., acknowledges benefits in the agreement, particularly in allowing local development corporations to negotiate directly with contractors. However, he raised concerns about how the current business agreement defines Cree-owned companies, particularly in the construction sector.
His main issue is the connecting factors test, which determines whether a company qualifies as a Cree business. While it lists requirements like a local office, bank account and permit, it ignores a key element for construction firms which is the RBQ license, Matoush explained.
“It doesn’t mention the RBQ license,” he said. “Who should be favoured more? A Cree partner working with a non-Cree company, or a fully Cree-owned company that holds its own RBQ license?”
Matoush believes the agreement risks favouring partnerships in which Cree ownership is nominal, while overlooking fully Cree-licensed contractors. “This is where improvement is needed,” he said.
Starting in 2007 with providing electrical services in Mistissini, Matoush expanded his company into industrial and mining projects through partnerships and two years ago obtained his own RBQ license.
Despite collaborating with non-Indigenous partners, Matoush said his priority is building Cree capacity, because Cree communities can become more self-sufficient by helping Cree workers.
“We have to make sure that more Cree are becoming certified within our communities,” he said. “This is the objective that I always follow within the partnerships.”
For him, the goal is not only fairness within the agreement, but the future where more Cree-licensed companies thrive throughout Eeyou Istchee.
Kevin Neeposh, president of KESI Construction, believes the proposed agreement has potential but Cree business owners must have input, ask questions, and make sure the rules meet their needs.
“For sure it’s going to help us,” Neeposh said. “But the part I don’t like is that more input is needed from the companies that will be impacted by this agreement.”
For Neeposh, the main issue is a new “point system” that Cree companies must meet to be approved under the agreement. He said, some of the criteria, like the banking requirement, were added without proper consultation.
“It asks, if you’re doing your banking locally, but in Mistissini we don’t own a bank,” he said, “Desjardins is in the community, but I don’t deal with Desjardins business-wise.”
Neeposh sees potential benefits in the agreement, such as prioritizing local companies. Currently, he points out major Cree institutions, including the Cree School Board, put their contracts on the public tender market, open to all in the province.
“Anybody in Quebec can bid on contracts that come into the communities,” he said. “The new agreement would change that, that’s where we benefit.”
Stressing that more consultation is needed, Neeposh hopes that “our leadership sits down with us before agreeing.”