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"Store Upgrades Provide First Nations Communities With Increased Access to Services Tailored to Their Changing Needs."

THE PAS, MANITOBA - The Paskwayak Business Development Corporation (PBDC), owned by the Opaskwayak Cree Nation (OCN), has purchased and upgraded equipment for two grocery stores located in The Pas, Manitoba with financial assistance from Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC).

The Pas IGA and The Pas Food Town are updating their store equipment to ensure that their customer base receives efficient service which is tailored to shoppers' changing needs. Purchases include such items as scanners, computers and upgraded cash registers.

These two stores provide community members with a total of 56 employment opportunities.

"I want to congratulate the Paskwayak Business Development Corporation and the Opaskwayak Cree Nation on these economic development success stories," said Robert Nault, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. "OCN has proven once again, that it is a strong, viable First Nation with a good history of commercial success. The community should be very proud of their accomplishments."

"The upgrades to the Food Town and IGA food stores is an excellent opportunity for the Opaskwayak Cree Nation to continue to improve its existing operations," said Chief Frank J. Whitehead. "It is a wonderful example of our community's continued commitment to progress and independence, especially in the area of economic development."

"As we continue to work on new business projects or upgrade what we already have, we are fortunate to have a positive working relationship with the department," said Glen Ross, CEO and President of the Paskwayak Business Development Corporation. "The contributions from the Economic Development program at INAC have helped a great deal in the modernization of our operations. We look forward to many more successes with their support."

INAC provided a $40,000 contribution from the department's Economic Development Opportunity Fund (EDOF). The EDOF program provides "equity gap" funding to eligible First Nations and Inuit community Economic Development Organizations. The objective is to help them attract joint venture partners or secure conventional debt financing to take advantage of a business opportunity. The First Nation provided an additional $120,000 towards the project through cash and commercial financing.

PBDC is a corporate structure mandated to lead the development of a sound economic base to achieve progress and independence for the Opaskwayak Cree Nation. PBDC has an excellent management record and can provide the core administrative skills necessary for the growth and survival of the ventures.

The primary target market for these two stores will consist of the five Swampy Cree First Nation communities and the immediate and surrounding areas. The secondary target market will include the towns of The Pas, the RM of Kelsey, Cormorant, Wanless and Snow Lake.

The Opaskwayak Cree Nation is located 620 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg and has approximately 2,600 on-reserve members.

This economic development project is part of the Government of Canada's commitment to promote strong, self-sufficient First Nations communities as outlined in the most recent Speech From The Throne.