As a result of their deliberations, committees may make recommendations which they include in their reports for the consideration of the House of Commons or the Government of Canada. Recommendations related to this study are listed below.

Recommendation 1: Creating Sustainable Opportunities for Indigenous Peoples

The committee recommends that the Government of Canada work with First Nations, Inuit and Métis governments and communities, as well as industry and provincial/territorial governments to create long-term socioeconomic opportunities for Indigenous peoples in the energy sector by:

• a) Providing educational and professional development opportunities to support a competitive Indigenous workforce, including higher-education scholarships and skills trainings;
• b) Establishing procurement policies that support Indigenous-led businesses, goods and services, similar to Australia’s Indigenous Procurement Policy;
• c) Supporting the development of community-owned and operated utilities through public-private partnerships and regional cooperatives;
• d) Investing in transportation and communication infrastructure in remote and rural areas, where needed, in a manner that balances out environmental and socioeconomic considerations, according to local priorities; and
• e) Promoting the development of Indigenous heritage trust funds to ensure that the benefits of non-renewable energy resources extend to future generations.

Recommendation 2: Facilitating Meaningful Indigenous Consultations

The committee recommends that the Government of Canada work with First Nations, Inuit and Métis governments and communities, as well as industry and provincial/territorial governments to facilitate meaningful Indigenous consultations on major energy projects in Canada by:

• a) Providing cultural competency training and resources for government officials and industry proponents, based on Indigenous expertise and the Government of Canada’s Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) analytical process, with the aim of improving their knowledge of the histories, cultures, treaty rights and socioeconomic priorities of First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities across Canada;
• b Offering educational resources and skills training to enhance energy-sector literacy among Indigenous peoples of all genders, ages, physical/mental abilities, education levels and social statuses; and
• c) Increasing participant funding and administrative support, where needed, to enhance Indigenous decision-making capacity in project consultations.

Recommendation 3: Mainstreaming the Application of Indigenous Knowledge

The committee recommends that the Government of Canada work with First Nations, Inuit and Métis governments and communities, as well as industry and provincial/territorial governments to mainstream the application of Indigenous knowledge in energy resource development, respecting intellectual property rights, by:

• a) Promoting the application of Indigenous knowledge, expertise and best practices in the co-development, co-design and co-implementation of energy-sector policies, consultation processes, monitoring activities, impact assessments and risk management strategies;
• b) Encouraging the application of diverse Indigenous perspectives, according to the Government of Canada’s Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) analytical process; and
• c) Advocating the use of Indigenous languages in energy development processes.

Recommendation 4: Strengthening Canada’s Industrial Development Framework

The committee recommends that the Government of Canada work with First Nations, Inuit and Métis governments and communities, as well as industry and provincial/territorial governments to strengthen Canada’s industrial development framework with regards to Indigenous land and treaty rights by:

• a) Providing more resources for the negotiation and settlement of outstanding land claims, taking into account the 2018 recommendations of the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs;
• b) Modernizing existing land claim agreements, at the request of Indigenous signatories, to reflect current environmental, legal and geopolitical realities in the energy sector; and
• c) Creating or updating industrial development protocols for different regions of Canada, as needed, in line with the environmental, cultural and socioeconomic priorities of local Indigenous communities.

Recommendation 5: Promoting Indigenous Trade and International Cooperation

The committee recommends that the Government of Canada work with First Nations, Inuit and Métis governments and communities, as well as industry and provincial/territorial governments to promote Indigenous trade and international cooperation by:

• a) Facilitating trade and investment opportunities between First Nations, Inuit and Métis governments/businesses and the rest of the world, including Indigenous peoples in other countries;
• b) Leveraging Indigenous leadership in Canadian international delegations and trade missions; and
• c) Instructing Canadian embassies and consulates to broaden their awareness of Indigenous economies and economic development opportunities at home.