Deloitte Canada launches 'Nation Building' practice
Deloitte Canada last week announced the launch of its “Nation Building” advisory practice, focusing on Indigenous-related engagements.
The new practice gathers resources from across the 13,000-person consulting firm, and will support First Nations, Metis, and Inuit communities with solutions in governance, economic development, natural resources, and community infrastructure.
“At Deloitte, through our Reconciliation Action Plan, we are committed to enhancing reconciliation through inclusivity and by empowering Indigenous Peoples and Nations to create economic diversity and achieve equity,” said Anthony Viel, CEO, Deloitte Canada. “We encourage all Canadian corporations to get involved and seize the opportunity to embark on this impactful journey together to catalyse change nationwide and transform our country for generations to come, more specifically by taking targeted action to address labour market barriers for underrepresented and underemployed groups.”
The practice will deliver strategies, solutions, and advisory services to Indigenous Nations, governments, and corporations. For Nations, offerings include governance assessment and establishment, administration advisory, grassroots solutions to healthcare, commercial development and strategy, and infrastructure advisory.
Government-focused offerings in the practice include program design, implementation and transfer advisory, funding strategies, and contracting, procurement, and Indigenous engagement strategy.
Finally, corporate-tailored offerings include Indigenous partnership and engagement strategy and reconciliation advancement.
“Across the country, prominent Indigenous organizations are seeking investment in infrastructure and require critical support for continued economic growth and development,” said Jolain Foster, managing partner, Nation Building at Deloitte Canada. “Only by coming together, we can shift perspective, modernize governance structures, create access to critical funding and grow Nation wealth. This is an unprecedented opportunity to build on our collective reconciliation efforts and move closer toward intergenerational healing and empowerment for all communities.”
In the past 30 years, Deloitte has worked with over 250 Nations and over 270 Indigenous communities, businesses, and organizations in Canada.
The firm in June 2020 released its Reconciliation Action Plan, the first formal plan in corporate Canada to answer the call to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
