Mr. Speaker, I have some exciting news to share with the House today. Stuwix Resources is a tenure holder and forest management company owned jointly by eight first nations in my riding of Okanagan—Coquihalla.
This is a company that employs close to half a dozen aboriginal staff full time and works with 89 different local businesses, of which 23 are local aboriginal entrepreneurs. The company has replanted over eight million seedlings in the past five years, and 65% of the forest harvest is completed by first nations contractors.
In summary, Stuwix Resources has become a leader in first nations forest resource management. I hope that the House will join with me in recognizing Stuwix Resources, which has won the Aboriginal Business Leadership Award, presented by the Forest Products Association of Canada and the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business.
This is an exciting award recognizing the leadership of first nations communities and the creation of employment through responsible resource development.