Vancouver Sun reported that the operator of Prince Rupert's major coal loading terminal and regional first nations signed an agreement that will see native communities offered a right of first refusal on capital contracts awarded by the Crown-owned facility.

As per report, the terms of what the 2 sides are calling an opportunities agreement call for Ridley Terminals to offer Coast Tsimshain communities a chance to bid on, or form business partnerships with other firms to bid on all request for proposal worth more than USD 500,000.

As part of the agreement, Ridley is expected to "make commercially reasonable efforts" to solicit first nations' participation by breaking up large contracts into smaller components that they can handle.

Mr Daniel Veniez Ridley Terminals Inc said that "Forging a new relationship with the Coast Tsimshain simply makes good business and economic sense." He said that aboriginals make up some 60% of the region's population.
Mr John Helin chief councillor of the Tsimshain community of Lax Kw' alaams said that "there is nothing that Canada can do to create more wealth for the naiton than to constructively engage the aboriginal population and their assets in forward looking development."

(Sourced from Vancouver Sun)