Minister Valcourt's Speaking Notes for the official opening of the Madawaska Maliseet First Nation's Grey Rock Power Centre

Speaking Notes for an address by the Honourable Bernard Valcourt, PC, MP
Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development and Member of Parliament for Madawaska-Restigouche

At the Official opening of the Madawaska Maliseet First Nation's Grey Rock Power Centre

Madawaska Maliseet First Nation New Brunswick

May 16, 2013

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Good afternoon.

  • Chief Joanna Bernard
  • Chief Roger Augustine
  • New Brunswick Minister of Social Development, my friend Madeleine Dubé

It is my great honour to join you here today on the traditional territory of the Madawaska Maliseet First Nation for the official opening of the Grey Rock Power Centre. Madawaska-Restigouche of course is also my riding and my home. I take great pride in this corner of the country and I am very proud to see this important investment in infrastructure and business development coming to fruition right here in our region.

The Power Centre really is a significant step forward for Madawaska Maliseet First Nation. This facility will provide long-term economic benefits to our community and the surrounding communities through construction jobs, sustainable employment opportunities, new business development, and the establishment of tenant businesses.

The Power Centre is the product of much patience and hard work. In particular, I'd like to salute the vision and dedication of Chief Bernard. Your commitment to this project has made it a reality, bringing jobs and economic opportunity to your community and fostering growth and prosperity for years to come.

As you know, the Harper Government recognizes the enormous potential of the Aboriginal people and we are committed to making strategic investments such as this one to tap into this skilled workforce to strengthen our country's prosperity but also to create the right conditions to improve the quality of life and well-being of First Nation communities.

For a project like this to see the light of day, you need collaboration between the First Nation community, the province and the federal government and our presence here today is proof that when we work together- we can achieve great things. I know how much effort went on behind the scenes at all levels – to build the interchanges and the supporting infrastructure – to make this project a reality. It didn't happen overnight.

By working together and through investments such as the Grey Rock Power Centre, we are helping create new businesses, jobs and yet more partnerships. And by increasing the participation of First Nation communities in our region's economic opportunities, we are all making a contribution to boosting Canada's economy. Everyone benefits.

Our Government will continue to engage with Aboriginal people and communities to enable them to seize real, significant and sustainable economic opportunities – just as you are doing here with the new Power Centre.

Projects such as this give life to the vision we all have for First Nations as active participants in our economy, creating jobs and economic growth in your communities.

It's easy to come here today and see this new infrastructure and not think twice about the time it took to get to this point. It took years to get here. And I think that the result that you see here today is due largely to the vision and patience of Chief Joanna and her council that made it possible to turn that vision into reality.

Once again my congratulations to everyone involved in this project, and my best wishes to Madawaska Maliseet First Nation for every success in the future. I look forward to the opening of more exciting business locations here at Grey Rock Power Centre.

Thank you.