AEDCs across Canada are faced with similar pressures of COVID-19 as other private enterprises and are suffering significant income losses
Many Indigenous-owned businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic are left ineligible for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy. We need to ensure that Indigenous businesses can have equitable access to the business support programs that are currently available to all other Canadian businesses.
Enabling Full Indigenous Participation in Canadian Business Relief Programs
In a joint-submission with other Indigenous organizations, CCAB advised government that this inequity can be addressed simply by including Indigenous corporations and their partnerships as a “prescribed organization” under Bill C-14 – “A second Act respecting certain measures in response to COVID-19”. This will ensure fair and equitable treatment of these significant employers who have been impacted by COVID-19 and will help to keep Canadian workers employed during this crisis.
AEDCs are major sources of employment for the communities they serve. Based on research conducted by the CCAB:
- AEDCs have an average of $15M in gross sales annually;
- They employ an average of 278 people and almost half (48%) employ over 100 people;
- AEDCs are one of the largest employers of Indigenous people, nationally, and four in ten (43%) AEDCS employ over 80% non-band members and,
- AEDCs generate critical revenue for their communities and build major infrastructure projects in Indigenous communities.
