COLD LAKE – More Cold Lake First Nations families will soon have a roof over their head, thanks to Cenovus Energy.
The oil and gas company announced the launch of their $50-million housing initiative on Jan. 30. Over the next five years, the $10-million per year investment will provide roughly 200 homes in six First Nations and Métis communities in Alberta, including Cold Lake First Nations.
“We just saw an opportunity to step up and do more,” expressed Sonja Franklin, senior media advisor for Cenovus. “We see it as a way to contribute to the reconciliation with indigenous people, some of which happen to be our neighbours.”
Cold Lake First Nations chief Roger Marten said in a press release, “We have about 3,000 band members and only 300 homes. The crisis is always there, and is always ongoing. The relationship has always been a great one with Cenovus, they have always listened and tried to do the best they can to help us along the way.”
Cenovus’ CEO and president Alex Pourbaix came up with the idea after seeing the need first-hand. He wanted to help find a solution.
“Investing in indigenous communities near our operations and ensuring they share in the benefits of resource developments has always been part of how we do business,” Pourbaix noted in a release. “We can’t solve the indigenous housing crisis by ourselves, but through this initiative, we have the opportunity to significantly improve the lives of many families currently living in overcrowded and unsafe conditions.”
The program is still in the early stages and the finer details have yet to be ironed out, however, Cenovus has confirmed they will be meeting with the leaders from Beaver Lake Cree Nation, Chard Métis (Local 218), Chipewyan Prairie Dene First Nation, Cold Lake First Nations, Conklin Métis (Local 193), and Heart Lake First Nation to begin planning this year.
“This isn’t an initiative where we’re going to go in and say ‘this is our plan, this is what we want to do, and this is how we’re going to do it.’ We specifically went in without a plan because we want to sit down with the leaders from these communities to figure out how best to do it. They’ll know best where the most pressing needs are, so it was a conscious decision to plan this together,” Franklin detailed.
When the building process will start and how many homes will be provided for Cold Lake First Nations families is still being determined.
“We’ll work with them to figure that out,” Franklin added.
Cenovus intends to work with the communities to develop training programs for local residents so they can participate in the construction and maintenance of the homes.
According to Franklin, the initiative has the possibility to grow in the future, depending on how it does in the first five years.
“We’re going to set up specific performance expectations. If those expectations are met, then we would consider extending it and it could lead to 10 years with a total investment of $100-million. We’re at the starting point of five years, and we’ll reassess as we go along.”
