Ellis Ross has been named
chairman of the new Aboriginal
Business and Investment Council.
And as chairman, the Haisla
Nation chief councillor will also
sit on the BC Jobs and Investment
Board, serving as a link between
the two bodies.
In making the announcement
last week premier Christy Clark
said, “Ellis Ross’s pragmatic approach
to economic development,
co-operation and collaboration
make him an incredible asset to the
Aboriginal Business and Investment
Council.”
Ross is a former federal Fisheries
employee who has also run a
log-salvage business and worked in
the charter-boat industry.
The Aboriginal Business and
Investment Council will work with
aboriginal communities and the
private sector to make recommendations
to government on strategies
to improve aboriginal peoples’ participation
in the economy, identify
successful investment models between
aboriginals and the private
sector, foster economic development
in aboriginal communities,
and increase overall investment in
the province.
“Aboriginal peoples have to
learn about what it takes to succeed
in the business world, business has
to learn how to engage with them,
and the Crown has to know what it
can bring to the table and how to ensure
it fl ows smoothly,” said Ross.
“If we can make headway on
these hurdles, we will see projects
getting built and aboriginal peoples
being involved in the economy surrounding
them.”
There was also something of a
local connection to the chairman of
the BC Jobs and Investment Board.
Ray Castelli is currently CEO
of Weatherhaven, one of the world’s
leading suppliers of redeployable
camps and shelter systems, but at
one time held a
a senior position with
Alcan.