On October 8, 2019, Alberta's United Conservative government
introduced Bill 14 - Alberta Indigenous Opportunities
Corporation Act. This Bill creates the Alberta Indigenous
Opportunities Corporation (AIOC), a crown corporation intended to
facilitate investment and access to capital by Indigenous groups in
natural resource projects and related infrastructure. The AIOC,
if successfully established, will be the first of its kind in
Canada.
Essentially, the AIOC
would provide a backstop of up to $1 billion in loan guarantees and
other financial tools to help Indigenous communities invest in
major natural resource projects.
Under Bill 14, the following Indigenous groups are eligible and
will be able to apply for the AIOC's
assistance: