Port services are expanding at the Port of Prince Rupert, B.C., in a huge growth area joined now by a tripartite business venture with Island Tug and Barge, Metlakatla, and Lax Kw’alaams First Nations.
While discussing the new marine services company that is being formed on the Northwest coast, Ryan Leighton, Director of Operations for the Metlakatla Development Corporation (MDC) stated, “It`s in the very early stages,” says Ryan, and it is difficult to foresee what opportunities we have for generating employment. It`s a matter of moving assets to Prince Rupert and going from there.”Ryan says, “There is a multitude of different opportunities we are looking at; however, at this time, everything is preliminary and nothing is set in stone.” The tripartite business group that includes Metlakatla, Lax Kw’Alaams and Island Tug and Barge is building the business portfolio.
Ryan notes that the North has an array of opportunities. MDC has a number of companies that range from forestry, a gas station, a tour company, ferry services, and an education centre that delivers a variety of educational and skills-building programs in Prince Rupert. The MDC is committed to creating opportunities that will sustain the two primary Coastal Tsimshian communities of Metlakatla and Lax Kw’Alaams.”
The new marine services project will operate across the Northwest coast region, “We are involved regionally and we’re going to grow. Barge services up here provide essential fuel, materials, supplies, everything right down to garbage remediation, “and our services will extend as far North as Alaska.”
He goes on to say, “We are faced with labour difficulties and the strong demand for capacity building in our communities. The issue of skill development is widespread and we have to spend a lot of time and money on capacity-building. We have the opportunities; we now need the skilled labour resources.”
The MDC, through their education centre (FNT&DC), has already started training First Nations people in a number of areas including college readiness, adult graduation and labour skills programs. Harold Leighton, MDC’s CEO, is a firm believer in providing the Band membership with the necessary foundational skills that will allow them to pursue further education in the area of their choice. Regarding the agreement between the Port of Prince Rupert and the Coast Tsimshian, Ryan’s comments were, “The signing is imminent. The federal government made their announcement a few weeks ago. The agreement includes many things.”
Metlakatla has a membership of over 800, and the membership for Lax Kw’Alaams is over 3200 members. Ryan affirms, “The agreement between the Port and the Coast Tsimshian allows for jobs, sole source contracting, and participation in all public information programs relating to the port. This agreement has taken a number of years to negotiate. The signing of it will confirm to us that the port acknowledges their obligation to negotiate Impact Benefit Agreements that recognize Metlakatla’s and Lax Kw’Alaams’ rights and title in this territory.”
The Coast Tsimshian community leadership made the business proposal when they approached ITB about forming a broad-based marine services company, “Lax Kw’alaams, Metlakatla (First Nations), and Island Tug and Barge Ltd. signed a joint venture partnership agreement on April 12, at the 2011 National Aboriginal Business Opportunities Conference, held in Prince Rupert.”
The press release says Lax Kw’alaams and Metlakatla First Nations make up the Coast Tsimshian Nation, with the core of their exclusive traditional territory being the Prince Rupert Harbour.
“This is not a tugboat company,” says John Lindsay, ITB vice president and general manager, “It is a fully equipped marine services company in a hot area of economic development.” Lindsay says the Port of Prince Rupert is undergoing all kinds of expansion to meet the shipping demands of commodity sectors like coal, potash, and other export minerals. “Lax Kw’alaams and Metlakatla leaders came to us and proposed the making of a company to do broad-based marine services, and we were happy to be asked.”
The new company will emerge over the coming weeks with port services in all areas of support for vessels, including construction of facilities, and environmental protection and remediation operations that will range along the entire coast. Island Tug and Barge itself is engaged in chartered and scheduled barging and towing services in Canada and abroad. This new tripartite company for BC Coastal communities has a solid foundation. The new company will be providing tug and barge, fuel supply, short sea shipping, marine construction, and other marine services to a range of customers on the north coast.
“We worked in collaboration with our two partners to plan the company launch. Our goals include recruiting and preparing employees with training and development. Employment skills are required with the labour force that we intend to employ,” therefore recruitment includes a strong push into both communities. “We are very pleased to be part of these communities and hire the people who are available,” for the wide range of job opportunities created.
Aboriginal business planners mapped the new employment prospects coming to communities in a situation of business ownership by two respective Band entities. ”The labour base is ready to be trained,” said Lindsay. “Marine operations at port facilities are regulated by Transport Canada, and all kinds of certification is required for our employees. It takes time and we are starting with the basics.”
ITB is working with First Nations that have marine facilities, and some personnel, already at work for ITB, though the company has never analyzed the workforce for the racial make-up of the employees, and always respects the territorial integrity and inherent rights of the communities they have long-served. The new company opens opportunity to expand infrastructure on Watson Island and Metlakatla with port and marine service facilities that could adjunct to Port of Prince Rupert in the future. The commencement of operations for the new company will occur by the end of summer 2011, while naming of this venture will occur during the summer once Elders of both nations are consulted. The new company will be imprinting national imagery in branding and marketing of the entity.
When signing the agreement and making the announcement in late April, Chief Councillor Garry Reece said, “We are extremely pleased to be joining with Island Tug, which will allow us to continue to bring skills and employment opportunities to my People.” Chief Councillor Harold Leighton of Lax Kw’alaams followed by stating, “Our communities have large traditional territories that encompass Prince Rupert and the North Coast. The marine economic development opportunities for us are significant, and partnering with Island Tug will enable us to tap into those opportunities.”
Recently, the Coast Tsimshian agreed to a business and employment package with the Port of Prince Rupert, and Chief Reece stated, “This is just a first of many steps we are taking to build opportunity in the Prince Rupert area, which will be good for everyone.” Lindsay concluded, “Island Tug has a long history of serving First Nations and other communities on the B.C. coast. We’re very pleased to work with Lax Kw’alaams and Metlakatla to develop a range of marine opportunities in their traditional territories on the north coast.”