Isadore Day: First Nations can 'supercharge' Canada's economy

First Nations youth are one of the fastest growing populations in Canada. They are the next generation of entrepreneurs, managers, bankers, traders and visionaries. If Canada abandons them, it abandons its own potential. Presently, over the past five years Aboriginal Affairs has held back more than $1B in promised spending for social services. Mr. Harper, who is vying for your votes on the economy, left over 50% of those youth to languish in poverty.

Canada was built on Treaty, and when one partner fails both partners fail. I think First Nations and Canadians both deserve better than another Conservative government that thinks we should both fail. A study by the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business found that 39% of Aboriginal business owners cite government policy and 34% access to financing as being barriers to business growth.

In 2011, TD Bank estimated that First Nations will have a market potential of over $32 billion by 2016. Almost all of that market potential comes from personal and business income generated in a climate of little opportunity and limited access to education. If that’s what we can do when the deck is stacked against us, imagine the economic benefits when we’re primed to succeed.