PAGC Announces Pending Sale Of Hotels

PAGC Announces Pending Sale Of Hotels

Monday, October 22, 2007 at 13:11

 

 

An organization that represents over 30,000 First Nations people in northeast Saskatchewan began its annual gathering in Prince Albert today.

 

An election is one of the highlights of the Prince Albert Grand Council’s two-day assembly.

 

Nominations take place today for the position of PAGC Southern Vice-Chief.

 

The actual voting will take place tomorrow.

 

Incumbent vice-chief Ed Henderson, who originally hails from Montreal Lake, is being challenged by Gordon Hardlotte of the Lac La Ronge Indian band.

 

The winner will serve a three-year term.

 

Meanwhile, the chiefs of the PAGC have agreed to a new business model that will see the group focus more on community investments.

 

The news came down this afternoon from PAGC corporate executive officer Ted DeJong that the grand council will sell off some of its assets.

 

Those include the Prince Albert Inn, the Marquis Inn and the Marlboro Inn, which first went on the selling block last year.

 

DeJong hopes the sale of these and a few other assests will generate $25 million for the PAGC.

 

The money will be put into a new investment fund that bands can access through applications.

 

PAGC Grand Chief Ron Michel hopes it will allow bands within to create wealth and jobs closer to their home communities, which he says many chiefs have been asking for.

 

The PAGC hopes to sell off the assets within the next 3 to 6 months.