A new national survey is shedding light on British Columbian’s views on the need for Indigenous business participation to strengthen the economy.
The national leger survey was commissioned by hospitality company Sodexo Canada in partnership with the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB).
It probed attitudes about the importance of thriving Indigenous businesses in terms of creating sustainable economic opportunities for Indigenous peoples and Canada’s economic growth.
The survey found that eight-in-ten Canadians (79 per cent) recognize Indigenous businesses strengthen the country’s social fabric.
The B.C. survey results also found that 72 per cent of British Columbians believe that private sector support for Indigenous businesses is an important pathway to healing Canada’s relationship with Indigenous people.
“It was an exercise for us to ask the question,” said Sodexo’s director of Indigenous Relations, Jonathan Kruger, of commissioning the survey.
“I'm a former Chief of the Penticton Indian Band and as an Indigenous former leader it makes me happy to see a survey like this being done and it gives hope to include Indigenous nations to be a part of the economy.”
The survey also found that 77 per cent of British Columbians recognize the importance of thriving Indigenous businesses to the creation of sustainable economic opportunities for Indigenous people and 78 per cent agree that agree Canadian corporations should include Indigenous owned and operated businesses in their supplier networks whenever possible.
“This this survey can give us an opportunity to reshape our future,” said Kruger, adding he hopes the survey results demonstrate there is an appetite for businesses to create relationships with Indigenous people and organizations.
“Sodexo is doing an amazing job, engaging, participating, and having real relationships and partnerships with Indigenous people and I’m hoping that more companies do the same thing.”
Sodexo Canada has received CCAB’s Progressive Aboriginal Relations (PAR) certification for the past 20 years, as it has 84 Indigenous-owned businesses in its supply chain and provides management training initiatives for Indigenous entrepreneurs.
“The success of Indigenous businesses clearly matters to Canadians,” says Tabatha Bull, president and CEO of CCAB.
“The fact that Canadians expect the private sector to step up with action to help Indigenous entrepreneurs sends a powerful message to decision makers. This broad public support will also fuel the optimism of Indigenous business owners. The role that procurement can play in offering a hand up will incentivize businesses to champion and encourage Indigenous business inclusion at all levels of business interaction and participation.”
The survey of 1,589 Canadians was completed online between May 28 and 30, 2021. A probability sample of the same size would yield a margin of error of +/-2.5%, 19 times out of 20.
