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Minister Rick Wilson
From the Minister
Red Dress Day honours the spirits of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.
Alberta’s government is taking action to reduce domestic violence for all people across Alberta.
Alberta’s government has taken one more concrete step towards making reconciliation a lived reality.
Widens the door to self-determining Metis Settlements.
Accomplishments
Alberta’s government will invest up to $150 million to expand and improve broadband internet in rural, remote and Indigenous communities.
Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation is a first-of-its-kind Crown corporation to facilitate Indigenous investments and job creation.
Joined the Premier in hosting a historic government-to-government meeting with all First Nations chiefs.
Worked with the Premier to renew a protocol agreement with the Blackfoot Confederacy as a foundation for working closely together.
Key information
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- Played a key role in the creation of the Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation, a $1 billion crown-corporation investing in job-creating natural resource and infrastructure projects in Indigenous communities.
- Opened intake for applications for Aboriginal Business Investment Fund, to provide eligible Indigenous community-owned businesses with up to $500,000 for ventures that demonstrate social and economic benefits for their communities.
- Supported the provision of $3.1 million to the Employment Partnership Program, which will support Indigenous people in training and employment.
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- Built relationships with all Indigenous communities during countless province-wide community visits and meetings.
- Collaborated with federal and Indigenous governments to support Indigenous safety during COVID-19, ensuring all Albertans benefit from pandemic planning and response.
- Worked with Alberta government ministries on programs supporting Indigenous Peoples through affordable housing, addiction treatment beds and the $1 billion Site Rehabilitation Program.
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- Cut red tape for industry and communities through the revision of the Proponent’s Guide on Indigenous consultation.
- Established the Alberta government’s Métis credible assertion process, where consultation will occur if organizations (other than Metis Settlements) first successfully demonstrate a credible assertion of Aboriginal rights.
- Assisted the first Métis organization in establishing the right to consultation on Aboriginal harvesting rights in Fort McKay.
In focus
Funding to help Indigenous communities research undocumented Indigenous deaths and burial sites.
Alberta’s government will invest in Indigenous-led mental health efforts, including supporting the healing of residential school survivors and their families.
Biography
Minister Rick Wilson was first elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Maskwacîs-Wetaskiwin on April 16, 2019, and was sworn in as Minister of Indigenous Relations on April 30, 2019. He was re-elected on May 29, 2023, and continued with his work in this portfolio. In this role, Minister Wilson has worked tirelessly to strengthen relationships with Indigenous communities and to develop and promote actions that support meaningful reconciliation.
Prior to his service as an elected official, Mr. Wilson served 15 years as County Councillor with County of Wetaskiwin, 7 years as Chairman of Crossroads Regional Health Authority, 6 years as Member of the Western Canadian Agriculture Debt Review Board, 5 years as School Board Trustee with Wetaskiwin Regional Public Schools and decades as a local business owner and farmer.