NEWS RELEASE: Launching our ESG Program
For Immediate Release:February 28, 2022
West Moberly Corporate Alliance Launches Indigenous ESG Program
Moberly Lake, B.C.: The economic development arm of West Moberly First Nations, West Moberly Corporate Alliance (WMCA), today launched its Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Program.
The WMCA ESG Program is working to change the way industrial operators work with Indigenous communities by connecting Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Referenced standards with community and Indigenous values.
“WMCA’s ESG program shows that Indigenous values can also be industry values,” said West Moberly First Nations Chief Roland Willson. “Our partner companies have signed-on to ESG tracking and data-based reporting because it demonstrates leadership and builds community trust through accountability.”
In Canada’s energy sector, ESG standards such as GRI are most associated with major industrial operators like Arc Resources, Tourmaline, ConocoPhillips, and Shell who use ESG factors to evaluate and improve their operations and decision-making – while gaining access to an ESG equity market valued at over $3-trillion in Canada.
Many WMCA Partner companies provide services to larger industrial clients in Treaty 8 Territory. Participating in the WMCA ESG program may help Partners gain a competitive edge by contributing to their clients’ ESG programs and mandates.
“Indigenous participation is a core part of our business, yet this hasn’t been substantively factored into the ESG standards of industry majors,” said Industrial Metalwork President Steve Gillingham. “We commend WMCA for working to bridge this gap and we are honoured to participate in West Moberly’s ESG Program.”
The ESG program’s development was funded by Natural Resources Canada’s Indigenous Natural Resource Partnerships (INRP) program, which provides support to Indigenous communities and organizations in British Columbia and Alberta to increase their participation in economic opportunities related to oil and gas infrastructure development.
“Indigenous Peoples are leaders in building a cleaner, more resilient energy future,” said the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources. “The Indigenous Natural Resource Partnerships program facilitates opportunities Indigenous communities can capitalize on to ensure sustainable development of resources and to create economic benefits for communities. Going forward, the Government of Canada will continue to work with Indigenous communities to increase participation and enable the development of innovative energy projects that will have benefits for generations to come.”
For 2022, WMCA reports that it has 13 Partner companies participating in the ESG Program, collecting a total of 66 datapoints which will be reported in the organization’s year-end ESG Accountability Report. This hard data will be presented alongside qualitative data showing the day-to-day actions, goals and ESG accomplishments of individual Partner companies.
West Moberly Corporate Alliance is 100 per-cent owned by the West Moberly First Nations. It generates revenue and community benefits through Environment, Social and Governance partnership agreements that govern the natural resource and commercial projects across West Moberly First Nations Territory.
For more information visit www.wmfnbusiness.com/ESG or download the WMCA ESG Action Plan (PDF).
DRIVING PROGRESS THROUGH UNITY.