Thank you.
From a purely economic standpoint, investing in Canada's youngest and fastest-growing demographic just makes sense. Each year, we see new research data estimating the benefits to be realized by the Canadian economy and by all Canadians if we close the socio-economic outcome gaps for first nations.
In recent years, the National Indigenous Economic Development Board estimated benefits to the GDP to be $27.7 billion per year, or 1.5% of GDP. While progress has been made on first nations priorities, significant gaps remain. Without sustainable and adequate investments, these gaps will continue to grow.
The committee took delivery of the AFN's 2024 pre-budget submission that provides a road map for Canada to make meaningful investments that align with its obligations to uphold first nations' unique and inherent rights. While the economic initiatives are compelling, let's be clear on the term of the day, which is economic reconciliation.
Each of these investments allows detailed long-term investments towards first nation priorities to eliminate socio-economic gaps. They also meet the objectives set out by the United Nations Declaration on the Right of Indigenous Peoples.
First nations have always demonstrated good governance and are skilled negotiators. I remind all of you that first nations agreed to share their lands only to the depth of a plow. Canada must abandon its long-standing disputes and pay its debts.
In a single year, Canada's natural resource exports exceeded $330 billion—in 2021. Each year that Canada does not share the proceeds of these resources and fails to pay its debts to first nations results in increasing socio-economic and infrastructure gaps. Canada must acknowledge its obligation to provide adequate, predictable and sustainable funding to close these gaps and to ensure they remain closed. This includes resources for capacity-building and support first nations-led sustainable development and institutions.
Economic reconciliation occurs once we are no longer managing poverty but managing wealth. It is also about understanding that health, healing, resiliency and self-determination are the foundation of prosperity and wealth building. Economic reconciliation requires substantial efforts to overcome the impacts on first nations that have been dispossessed of their lands, economies, customs and cultures. Canada must take the “necessary steps” and “effective measures” to meet the obligations of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.
An essential element of Canada's fiduciary responsibility is to ensure that first nations enjoy the same standard of living as non-indigenous Canadians and achieve equity and equality for all.
Economic reconciliation goes beyond equitable access to capital, participation in government procurement and resource revenue-sharing. Ultimately, it requires a new government-to-government fiscal relationship between Canada and first nations.
By the way, the AFN represents over 1.5 million first nations citizens, so it's a very large organization. We do deliver results for our people according to their unique priorities and needs.
For Canada to achieve economic reconciliation, a new distinct approach for budget-setting must align with inherent rights, international treaties signed by the Crown, and respect for nation-to-nation relationships. The current process for funding first nations priorities is outdated and ineffective.
Every year, the AFN condenses the budget priorities for over 630 first nations rights-holders into a 2,000 word brief.
The AFN and the first nations are then subject to the scrutiny of an external bureaucracy and the Department of Finance while hoping to secure incremental funding that remains far below the level of need. Canada has fiduciary obligations, and the first nations have rights, which do not change from one year to another and neither should the funding commitments required to uphold them.
The AFN pre-budget brief consists of critical elements to meet first nations' diverse and significant needs, including investments detailed in the comprehensive analysis that supports the Minister of Indigenous Services' mandate to close the infrastructure gap by 2030.
Roads, utilities, digital connectivity, facilities and housing are fundamental for economic opportunity and growth. The AFN and Indigenous Services Canada worked with industry leading experts to codevelop a comprehensive costing report, “Closing the Infrastructure Gap by 2030”, which covers several of these items, such as the $135 billion identified to meet critical and outstanding housing needs. That's just in housing.
Our submission also details investments required to meet first nations' needs in education programming and to immediately build, replace, repair and expand first nations schools to eliminate overcrowding. It includes investments and other means to properly fund infrastructure retrofitting to ensure first nations can meet the requirements to accommodate modern accessibility standards and to address inequalities faced by persons with disabilities.
It includes investments to bridge the digital divide for first nations by meeting the minimum broadband standards outlined in Canada's federal connectivity strategy: high-speed access for all. It details investments towards first nations leadership in climate, conservation and food security, which are the most effective means to combat climate and biodiversity loss crisis.
I think I'm running out of time.