ARTICLE · 31 JANUARY 2017

What Is An Aboriginal Business In 2017?

Miller Titerle + Company

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As we start to fill our new 2017 calendars and contemplate another year of opportunities and successes, it's also an opportunity to reflect on some of our assumptions imbedded in the practice of aboriginal business law.

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Miller Titerle Company LLP

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As we start to fill our new 2017 calendars and contemplate another year of opportunities and successes, it's also an opportunity to reflect on some of our assumptions imbedded in the practice of aboriginal business law.

For businesses seeking procurement opportunities in energy projects, one assumption we have worked with for some time has been that BC Hydro has historically defined "an Aboriginal business" to be a business that is at least 51% Aboriginal-owned. However, recent BC Hydro procurement policy changes are challenging this assumption. Under BC Hydro's revised procurement policy, an Aboriginal business is:

"any business arrangement in which Aboriginal individuals and/or Aboriginal communities have an ownership or other interest, and includes any business entity identified by an Aboriginal community as its designated business partner."

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