Regina's Indigenous procurement policy takes shape as step toward economic reconciliation

Regina is one step closer to having an Indigenous pro‐ curement policy.

According to city officials, once implemented it will be the city's first policy that di‐ rectly responds to the Truth and Reconciliation Commis‐ sion's calls to action.

"If you're acknowledging the harms and mistakes of the past, then this is one of the harms and mistakes," said Mayor Sandra Masters.

"There's not intergenera‐ tional kind of businesses in In‐ digenous communities neces‐ sarily to the extent that there are in non-Indigenous [com‐ munities]."

The City of Regina spent $205 million on procurement in 2022. Just $300,000 dollars — or 0.15 per cent — went to Indigenous businesses.

The policy increases that commitment, stating that a minimum of 20 per cent of Regina's procurement con‐ tracts be held by Indigenous vendors.

In a report presented to executive committee, last year's spending percentage is expected to "grow exponen‐ tially" with the implementa‐ tion of the policy.

However, there is no time‐ line for when the city would be required to meet the goal of 20 per cent. Staff admitted to the executive committee that some of the finer details in the agreement need to be ironed out.

Thomas Benjoe, CEO of File Hills Qu'Appelle Devel‐ opments, says the strategy provides an exciting opportu‐ nity for Indigenous compa‐ nies to move away from chas‐ ing a single big contract.

Indigenous companies will "be able to see contracts and revenue opportunities on an annual basis. So things aren't as peaks and valley," he said.

Benjoe helped develop the policy as part of a 23-per‐ son Indigenous procurement advisory committee created to advise the city.

The strategy means that young Indigenous people in‐ terested in becoming entre‐ preneurs will be able to see success and be encouraged to create their own path for‐ ward, Benjoe said.

"It's a long time coming and I think we can be very proud of our community and in our city for taking such a large leadership step in the right direction," he said.

'Meaningful economic reconciliation'

The policy received unani‐ mous support at executive committee on Wednesday but must still pass a vote at a meeting of Regina city council.

The City of Regina will not be the first to have an Indige‐ nous procurement poli‐ cy. Saskatoon already has a policy in place while Bramp‐ ton, Ont., Toronto and Van‐ couver have procurement goals for ensuring suppliers are diverse.

City officials say the benchmark of 20 per cent was reached by considering the growing Indigenous popula‐ tion in Regina and

Saskatchewan.

The 2021 census shows 10.3 per cent of Regina's pop‐ ulation are Indigenous while Saskatchewan as a whole sits at 17 per cent.

The benchmark is meant to be serve an an achievable requirement that represents the population and demon‐ strates the City of Regina's "meaningful economic recon‐ ciliation efforts," according to the report presented to exec‐ utive committee.

Masters says the goal will help meet the Truth and Rec‐ onciliation Commission call to action #57 — ensuring a duty to reconciliation for all public servants. It also responds to call to action #92 — a commit‐ ment of meaningful consulta‐ tion, building respectful rela‐ tionships, obtaining informed consent of Indigenous peo‐ ples before proceeding with economic development pro‐ jects and ensuring that In‐ digenous peoples have equi‐ table access to jobs, training and education opportunities.

"Economic equity is, in some respects, imperative for the future," Masters said.

Masters said that her role as the first woman to be elected mayor of Regina has had an effect on young women in the community, ex‐ plaining that seeing tangible results makes a difference.

She believes the same is true for Indigenous youth in Regina and that the policy will create the same growth for entrepreneurs.

"It's really about reframing the opportunity and the hope that everyone can have," Masters said.