‘Massive announcement’: Métis businesses now eligible to bid on federal projects

The federal government will now recognize more than 850 Manitoba Métis-owned businesses for its procurement process.

Manitoba Métis Federation president David Chartrand announced Wednesday businesses registered with the Red River Métis Business Directory are now eligible for federal procurement opportunities.

“We’re estimating about 10 per cent of those businesses, without doubt, should be able to fit (criteria) on the big announcements and jobs that are coming. This is a massive announcement,” Chartrand said during a news conference at the MMF Building.

The businesses will be eligible for procurement opportunities under the Procurement Strategy for Indigenous Business. Federal departments are mandated to award a minimum of five per cent of their total procurement each year to Indigenous businesses.

Donna Cook, the economic development and housing specialist for Cobra Enterprises, said the opportunity will allow her Beausejour firm the opportunity to expand.

“We’ve been talking to (Northern and Arctic Affairs) Minister (Rebecca) Chartrand as well about housing and hoping to expand and move across Canada,” Cook said. “If we can get any some sort of funding to help with that, we can be delivering them much faster.”

Cobra builds modular homes for northern and remote communities, as well as buildings for community organizations like women’s shelters.

To qualify for the Indigenous procurement program, a business must prove it is at least 51 per cent Indigenous-owned and register under the federal Indigenous business directory.

In the 2023-24 fiscal year, the feds awarded more than $1.24 billion in contracts to Indigenous businesses, representing 6.1 per cent of all eligible government contracts.

The Wednesday deal was done, in part, through a November 2024 signing of the Red River Métis self-governing recognition and implementation treaty, said Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty, who was in Winnipeg for the announcement.

Chartrand said prior to the deal, Métis businesses were not being chosen through the procurement process, in part, due to the way the federal government developed the business registry and its qualifications prior.

“What this means to us is 857 Métis businesses are guaranteed to be part of the opportunity now,” he said.

Gull-Masty said the five per cent minimum contract represents a baseline target.

“We have to create that space for all Indigenous peoples to be welcomed into economic development,” she said.

The minister said with financial pressure coming from the U.S., Canada must become more self-reliant.

The business opportunity could help Canada insulate itself from U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs and allow the country to stand on its own when it comes to defending itself against countries like Russia, Chartrand said.

Businesses in the MMF directory are now able to compete for federal defence contracts, such as the Future Aircrew Training Program, and other domestic and northern defence activities.

“Let’s stand together and fight against the south, not the people of the south — the leader of the south,” Chartrand said.

Cook says the opportunity gives her the chance to eye military outbuildings as a possible portfolio expansion.

“We have different things like fabric buildings and large steel buildings. We have a huge mechanical division … they work on big buildings and big projects all across Canada,” she said. “This is big for people like me.”

nicole.buffie@freepress.mb.ca