The Manitoba Government is partnering with the Opaskwayak Cree Nation (OCN) to bring aerospace jobs to the Northern Manitoba community.

Education and Training Minister Ian Wishart announced the government is investing $85,000 to help implement a new manufacturing company in the Paskwayak region that will supply products for the aerospace industry. That funding is in addition to the $25,000 OCN is chipping in.

The money will help Manitoba Aerospace hire an external partner to develop a business proposal and strategy for the plant. It will also help to train members of the community who will make up the plant’s workforce.

“We’re really pleased with this,” Wishart said. “The aerospace industry has been mainly focused in Winnipeg and this is them making a direct connection with a very strong First Nation’s community in our province.”

“There will be good jobs created and training that goes along with them.”

Ginger Martin is the Chief Executive Officer of Paskwayak Business Development Corporation for OCN.

“Our economic growth has been very slow recently,” Martin said. “Unemployment among youth in our community is getting better but the rate is still high and we need jobs for them to fill.”

“We’re really looking forward to moving ahead with this project and working with our people to get into the industry.”

Martin says she was there to experience the anxiety people in the community felt when Tolko announced it would be shutting down the pulp and paper plant in The Pas in 2016. Though Tolko eventually found a buyer and people kept their jobs that anxiety still hangs over many northern communities like a dark cloud.

“A lot of our towns are very isolated, especially in terms of transportation and education,” Martin said. “People often have to relocate for work and education and that’s very hard for them so if we can bring something in to keep our members and our youth home that’s positive.”

“Bringing opportunities north is how we need to start working together with all levels of government.”

According to the province, the aerospace industry supports 5,000 jobs in Manitoba.

Wishart said it’s too early to estimate how many jobs this manufacturing plant will create but he’s hopeful it will be opened in the next two years.  

The partnership is part of the province’s Look North initiative.