Thank you, Chair.
Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, the formation of the Athabasca Basin Development Limited Partnership is one of the many ways in which the first nations in the Athabasca region have approached economic development. The Athabasca Basin Development Limited Partnership, known as ABDLP, is an excellent example of an aboriginal success story. It was formed in 2002 to pursue mining service opportunities in uranium mines. It was formed as the result of the determination of community leaders to fully participate in mining activities in their traditional areas.
The keys to the formation of this include community unity and an impact benefit agreement with the mining companies, partnership, and persistence. After several years, the company's expertise became transferrable to other geographic areas, which has led to expansion outside the region. ABDLP has a vision to be the leading entrepreneurial aboriginal-owned investment company in Canada.
As for ABDLP's ownership and governance, three first nations—Hatchet Lake, Black Lake, and Fond du Lac—own 70% of the company, while four non-first nations—Wollaston Lake, Uranium City, Camsell Portage, and Stony Rapids—own the remainder. Of the company’s five-member board of governance, first nations comprise the majority, including me as a chairperson.
Regarding ABDLP's successes, the partnership has ownership in nine companies, ranging from 30% to 100% ownership. These nine companies have their own governance structure to provide services to the mining and exploration sector, or government. We have investments in drilling underground, mining securities, construction, aviation, logistics, road maintenance, electrical, and labour supply. Our investments have provided services in commodities such as uranium, potash, oil sands, iron ore, diamonds, and gold. Consolidated revenues from investments in 2012 will exceed $90 million. The unit value in our investments has increased from $100 per unit to pretty well over $350,000 per unit in 10 years. Our investments have worked for mining exploration companies in four provinces and one territory. Total employment from all investments has exceeded 1,300, and no fewer than 200 aboriginal people are employed. We have partnered with other first nations in some of our investments. ABDLP was the inaugural winner of the Skookum Jim Award in 2008 and won provincial awards, including best new venture and best aboriginal partnership. ABDLP has also consistently reinvested its profits to fuel its growth while maintaining its distributions to unit holders.
The seven first nation communities in the Athabasca region are the only communities in Saskatchewan without all-weather road access. All the uranium mines in the Athabasca region have year-round access to their sites. As for the all-weather roads initiative, currently, Wollaston Lake is served by a provincially owned barge and an ice-road. Black Lake and Stony Rapids are served by seasonal overland roads, and Fond du Lac is served by a two-month road and a private barge in the summer. For over 10 years the building of an all-weather road to Wollaston Lake has been proposed, a road of some 107 kilometres, as well as completion of the road to Stony Rapids and Black Lake, of some 185 kilometres, and the building of an all-weather road to Fond du Lac, of some 85 kilometres, as well as support by ferry to cross one kilometre of the river.
On the Athabasca region's contribution to Canada, I would point out that all of Canada's uranium is produced in the Athabasca region, accounting for 20% plus of the world's supply, making it the number-two producer in the world. Communities situated in Athabasca make it feasible for airlines to deliver scheduled service, for trucking companies to make regular trips to the region, and for hotels and stores to be established. All of this is vitally important to exploration companies, which would be at a tremendous disadvantage if services were not available for their various exploration cycles. Indeed, Athabasca communities endure harsh living conditions on a daily basis, but the required services for that help create better infrastructure for industry over time. The region also hosts world-class fishing lodges, and communities have a current and future workforce only a short distance from the resource sector.
Why should roads be built? Athabasca is a positive contributor to Canada and to the province of Saskatchewan. The ice roads are becoming less reliable. A significant hydro project in Black Lake would be enhanced by road access. Exploration costs can be reduced, which can lead to mines. We have community populations that are young and growing. Health will be improved. Costs are unacceptably high, potentially higher than in northern territories. Youth could access recreation opportunities much more easily. And the rest of Canada has roads that have proven that they are positive for society.
Where is the government? No less than three times in the past ten years the provincial and/or federal governments have made financial commitments to the roads, and governments agree the roads are needed. Of the three times commitments were made, either governments could not make an agreement or government did not follow up on their commitment.
Governments were encouraged during the fiscal stimulus program to build roads to which no commitment was made. Currently the status is that the provincial government has committed to building the road to Wollaston Lake by 2013 and has essentially withdrawn from its commitment.
Marci Chogh. Thank you.