Precious metals exploration firm Noront has called for impact and benefit agreements (IBAs) which bind all companies operating on aboriginal sites in Canada to be standardised.

Law.com reports that the IBAs require firms in the oil and gas industry and other key sectors to make remunerative contributions and commit to training and development programmes for aboriginal worker.

However, in the past these have normally been agreed on an ad hoc, confidential basis, Carmen Diges, vice-president of legal and business affairs at Noront, told the journal.

Ms Diges is now calling for industries to work towards standardisation of all non-financial aspects of the IBAs in order to ensure that aboriginal Canadians are granted access to a uniform quality of training and other benefits.

In July of last year, the Canadian government also demonstrated its commitment to indigenous training and development with the launch of the Aboriginal Skills and Employment Partnership for the Nova Scotia region.

Oil and Gas Directory: Training and Development