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Results: 121 - 135 of 349
View Pierre Poilievre Profile
CPC (ON)
Excellent.
I understand that all of the elected communities on the right of way of the Coastal GasLink are supporting that natural gas project.
Is that your understanding as well?
Ellis Ross
View Ellis Ross Profile
Ellis Ross
2021-04-15 12:25
Without a doubt. They all signed on, including first nations along the tanker route. They signed on. They did it for the benefit that we're all enjoying right now as we speak—for the last five years.
View Pierre Poilievre Profile
CPC (ON)
With the non-indigenous protestors who were blocking trains and standing in the way and creating these blockages, would you say they represent the first nations communities affected by the Coastal GasLink pipeline and liquefaction project?
Ellis Ross
View Ellis Ross Profile
Ellis Ross
2021-04-15 12:26
No, not even close. In fact, they blockaded the B.C. legislature, and I was told I should support aboriginal rights and title by a protester. I had spent the better part of 15 years doing exactly that to get my people to a better place, along with 17 other first nations along the pipeline. They were all doing it under the banner of rights and title.
A lot of the protestors across Canada don't have a good understanding of what rights and title actually are.
View Pierre Poilievre Profile
CPC (ON)
This is a project that will benefit the communities that unanimously elected leaders that unanimously support it and the communities they represent. It will actually reduce global greenhouse gases by replacing foreign oil with clean, green Canadian natural gas. It helps the environment. It helps first nations escape poverty and achieve independence. Isn't that what we're continually told we should be doing?
Ellis Ross
View Ellis Ross Profile
Ellis Ross
2021-04-15 12:27
Well, that's what I learned back in 2004. I've been reviewing LNG projects, forestry projects and solar and wind. You name it, I've reviewed it.
I always thought that was the common denominator: to protect the environment but to actually try to do something for the planet as well as trying to uplift aboriginals.
By the way, when you uplift aboriginals in any setting, you actually make the community stronger, B.C. stronger and, Canada stronger. I don't understand why we're actually allowing the opposition to dictate what's happening here in B.C., in Canada.
View Sébastien Lemire Profile
BQ (QC)
Thank you, Madam Chair.
I will begin by addressing the Chief Commissioner of the First Nations Tax Commission, Mr. Jules.
Kwe.
What is your reaction to the exchange you just heard between Mr. Poilievre and Mr. Ross? Do you agree with those statements being attributed to first nations?
You know that we are currently debating in the House Bill C-15, which recognizes more indigenous rights, including the right to self-determination. Do you consider this to be a worthwhile process? It includes the obligation to consult first nations. Would you prefer that?
C.T. (Manny) Jules
View C.T. (Manny) Jules Profile
C.T. (Manny) Jules
2021-04-15 12:35
I agree with Ellis. He's got long-standing experience in this area. What we need in this country is economic reconciliation, fundamentally. We've been legislated out of the economy and I believe that what we need, really, is a first nation federal-provincial table so that we can look at and establish a better fiscal relationship, focused on investment and competitiveness. I think that's the fundamental way we've got to move forward, addressing the myriad of concerns.
One of the things Ellis was saying that I agree full-heartedly with is that just having one piece of legislation doesn't lead to true reconciliation. If we're looking at the piece of legislation to deal with UNDRIP, we need a myriad of different pieces of legislation to implement the constitutional rights that Canada has recognized for first nations.
The other thing that's clear in the discussions is that first nations operate under telegraph technology, as opposed to a digital age technology. All of these matters have to fundamentally change, and if Canada is going to regain its competitive edge, we have to move to ensure that first nations are fully a part of the solutions that are going to come post pandemic.
One of the things that's going to be critically important, of course, is fiscal relationship discussions based on the health care and indebtedness that Canada as a whole is going to be facing. Without harnessing the youth and the abilities to —
C.T. (Manny) Jules
View C.T. (Manny) Jules Profile
C.T. (Manny) Jules
2021-04-15 12:37
We need economic reconciliation in this country.
I agree with Ellis Ross in his statements about UNDRIP. You can't have one piece of legislation when you've got constitutionally recognized rights. You have to have a myriad of different pieces of legislation that facilitate our being a fundamental economic and competitive partner in this federation.
Right now we've got a situation whereby we've been completely legislated out of the economy. We first nations operate under technology that was developed during the telegraph era. We need to be a part of the digital age. That means fundamentally changing how we operate in this country.
One of the fundamental recommendations I would make to this committee is that we establish, or that you recommend the establishment of, a first nations federal-provincial table to deal with competitiveness and the myriad of complex issues that this country is facing in getting our commodities to market.
View Earl Dreeshen Profile
CPC (AB)
Thank you, Madam Chair.
When I first entered politics in 2008, the first book I read was by Calvin Helin, Dances with Dependency, Out of Poverty Through Self-Reliance. It has helped guide me, having spent a number of years focused on aboriginal affairs and northern development, in my thoughts about how we should be looking at aboriginal leaders and the advances they should be able to use to help in their communities.
I've spoken with you, Mr. Jules, on a number of occasions as we've discussed different ways that which governments could allow first nations people to help look after themselves, rather than continue with the malaise they are in because governments seem to feel they know best how to run their lives.
This is where I'm coming from when I address these questions to both you, Mr. Jules, and Mr. Ross.
Mr. Jules, you've talked about the importance of decision-making for unemployment and about being able to look after the land. It's as though, if there were such a dirty thing as oil and gas being developed, or mining, somehow the first nations people would all of a sudden throw up their hands and say, well, obviously we want to be in on that; we don't want to look after the land we've lived on for so many generations.
Mr. Jules, what can we do to stop the concept that political people understand what you need and instead start listening to what is required to help all of our economy move forward?
C.T. (Manny) Jules
View C.T. (Manny) Jules Profile
C.T. (Manny) Jules
2021-04-15 12:49
Fundamentally, the biggest issue we face is that when governments begin to deal with first nation issues, we're viewed as a liability. My understanding is that the government, when it looks at a myriad of issues, sees more than a trillion dollars' worth of liability, and that hampers much of the innovative methods by which we can begin to move forward.
What I've always maintained and said is, let us take on the responsibility of liability. Let us look after ourselves, because we know the priorities of our first nation people's needs.
This means recognizing the fundamental powers of first nation governments, meaning access to the resources that are exploited within our traditional territories. The way to do that would be to ensure that we have a resource charge; that we have skin in the game. One of the best incentives is not federal government or provincial government programs, but economic power. That is the biggest incentive for creating wealth and not managing poverty.
View Tony Baldinelli Profile
CPC (ON)
Thank you.
I'd like to go on now to Mr. Jules and thank him for his presentation.
It's interesting and I was taking notes when you mentioned the First Nations Fiscal Management Act. You indicated that it has been the most successful first nation initiative in Canadian history. I'd like to see if you could elaborate on that and why you feel that.
C.T. (Manny) Jules
View C.T. (Manny) Jules Profile
C.T. (Manny) Jules
2021-04-15 13:06
It's optional, first of all, I think, which is really critical. There were very few communities that initially started to be involved in the optional legislation, and now we have over 300 communities right across the country that we work with. Through the real property tax system, we've seen our properties increase in value some $3 billion over the last 15 years, an incredible amount of growth. We see annual growth of about 13%. Of course, this is going to be impacted by COVID-19, so we have to be able not to go back to normal, but build back better to ensure that our economies will continue to be successful.
We've had over a billion dollars' worth of bonds through the First Nations Finance Authority. We've helped the federal government enact its 10-year grant funding program for first nation communities through the first nations management board. We are currently developing the concept of our own infrastructure institute, which would allow the federal government to monetize capital contributions to first nations, which would really accelerate business-ready infrastructure within reserves right across the country.
David Chartrand
View David Chartrand Profile
David Chartrand
2021-04-15 11:51
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you for allowing us to come to this very important committee. I want to start off by saying good morning to everyone and thank you to the members of the committee for inviting me to speak today. My apologies for a late submission that is coming your way in French translation. We don't have a lot of funding in this particular area, so we always seem to be late. I want to express my apologies to our friends in Quebec. We will never forget them for standing up for Louis Riel. We do apologize to them for not having the French translation on time.
I am pleased to speak on behalf of the Métis nation in support of Bill C-15 and the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Canada. The Métis nation is a distinct indigenous nation based in western Canada. We are a rights-holding nation under section 35 of the Constitution, and we are a partner in Canada's Confederation.
For the past year, the Métis nation has worked collaboratively with Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the Assembly of First Nations, and the Government of Canada to develop legislation using former Bill C-262 as the floor. Bill C-15 is the result of this process. The human rights contained in the UN declaration are the minimum standards for our survival, dignity and well-being, and Bill C-15 sets out an effective process to implement these rights in Canadian law.
In 2008, former MP Tina Keeper introduced a private member's bill to implement the UN declaration in Canada. In 2016, Romeo Saganash did the same under Bill C-262. We are here today because, unfortunately, these bills did not receive royal assent. On the positive side, we have the foundation that these previous bills have provided, and we have the momentum to make change right now. We must not allow this opportunity to slip through our fingers. We have waited for too long to see the rights of indigenous peoples fully recognized.
We believe that passing this bill into law is critical to a future that respects our rights as a nation. We urge members to expedite the process to ensure that Bill C-15 is passed in this session of Parliament. We urge members to reject proposals for amendments that would impede this objective, including the amendments put forth by the Assembly of First Nations and the British Columbia Assembly of First Nations. I will speak to this more in a few minutes.
In November 2020, we held nationwide engagement sessions, at which we heard from a broad range of Métis nation citizens from across our homeland. I think each of you has a copy of this. You can read it. Hopefully you've read it. If not, please read it. We heard from Métis nation women, elders, youth, persons with disabilities, gender-diverse persons and two-spirit persons. We heard from our leaders within Les Femmes Michif Otipemisiwak-Women of the Métis Nation, which is part of the governing structure of the Métis nation.
In our engagement processes, the citizens of the Métis nation voiced their strong support for the implementation of the UN declaration, and expressed hope that this bill will become law and positively impact their lives and futures. During these sessions, our citizens emphasized a number of areas in which their rights matter in their daily lives. These included education, language, housing, health, child and family services, jobs and economic opportunities. They also feel strongly about their right to self-determination and jurisdiction over lands, territories and resources. We are strong protectors of our land. We also understand the role that responsible resource development plays in the economic security and well-being of our communities and the prosperity of Canada as a whole.
The Métis nation is uniquely positioned to strike a balance between the environmental and economic factors of our homeland and resources. The recognition of our rights supports this. Our Métis nation governments must have a central role in implementation, and we will work in partnership with the Crown and with industry when it comes to our land.
The common theme in all of this is our inherent right to self-determination. This is our cardinal right. Much of the discussion around this bill and the declaration has centred around free, prior and informed consent. This is a natural and necessary part of our right to self-determination. I will speak more on this later.
Our lives are rich and deep, and our self-determination is exhibited in many different areas. As you can see from the priorities of our citizens and from reading the declaration itself, our self-determination fortifies our citizens, communities and nation in a holistic manner.
Bill C-92, passed in June, 2019, is a good example. It was developed in partnership with indigenous peoples and makes good progress toward implementing the UN declaration in the area of child and family services. It does this by affirming our right to self-determination and affirming our jurisdiction over our nation's children. We continue to support this approach to implementation.
It's also important to the Métis nation that implementation of the UN declaration, through Bill C-15, is done in a meaningful, transparent and accountable manner. The inclusion of the reporting requirements and an oversight mechanism to provide recourse for rights violations are key additions that strengthen this bill.
Likewise, the success of the action plan is crucial for meaningful implementation. The declaration affirms the right to self-determination and supports the role of indigenous governments in representing their nations. The action plan must reflect this. It must be developed in true partnership between the Government of Canada and indigenous governments. It must not be unduly limited in scope. It must be properly resourced so that indigenous peoples in Canada have the means to truly implement their rights.
I'd like to turn now to the issue of certainty. As with Bill C-262, claims that this bill will result in uncertainty and threaten economic opportunities has been a major point of contention. Let me be clear. Economic growth is very important to the Métis nation and to Canada. Free, prior and informed consent is not a veto. Implementing the UN declaration will result in more certainty, not less.
We must recognize that we have been living in this uncertainty for years. This has resulted in using the court system to try to find certainty. We fought for our land rights in court for 32 years in the Manitoba Metis Federation case. We'll always stand up for our homeland and our self-determination, but Bill C-15 offers us a better way forward than fighting battles in courts. This is why I call the UN declaration a blueprint for clarity.
The market always tries to find greater certainty. This point has been raised several times before this committee, but look at how the market has responded to the uncertainty we have been living in. Industry has moved towards forming more respectful relationships with indigenous peoples, and some companies such as the Mining Association of Canada have even looked to incorporate policies on free, prior and informed consent under processes. This is how they have found greater certainty. The idea that moving further towards this approach through Bill C-15 would result in less certainty is nonsense.
I would hold up the productive relationship the Métis nation has formed with industry groups, such as the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, the Mining Association of Canada and Enbridge, as further evidence that Bill C-15 will create greater certainty. These relationships have translated into projects that have provided tangible benefits for the Métis nation and for Canada, such as projects that the Manitoba Metis Federation has undertaken with Enbridge.
Free, prior and informed consent is key to our ability to participate meaningfully in the decisions that impact our lives, our land and our rights. This is necessary if our right to self-determination is to be upheld. We will be involved from the very beginning as partners in natural resource projects on other developments. We will look together for the best way forward in a way that builds consent.
This is not a veto. I repeat that again: This is not a veto. It does not undermine or override due process. There is no due process if we are excluded. Free, prior and informed consent ensures due process by ensuring our participation.
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