Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee on Feb. 10th, 2009

[Michel Roy]

The agreement between the Crees and the federal government, which was termed the new relationship, deals with the implementation of a modern treaty which was signed in 1975. The purpose of this was to settle an implementation-related dispute before the courts. So this was not a specific claim. These are currently negotiations between the Crees and Quebec concerning a self-government agreement for the Crees. And that has resulted from the comprehensive agreement that was reached.

[Yvon Lévesque, Bloc, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC]

Thank you very much.

[Marc Lemay, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

May I say something?

What you are saying is interesting. Are there any other self-government implementation agreements, for example, with the Attikameks or the Algonquians?

[Michel Roy]

Self-government is one of the elements of any modern treaty-based comprehensive claim negotiation process. It was the first land claim agreement in modern times for the Crees, and there was no self-government at that time.

[Marc Lemay, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

The community already has to be recognized by the department as a first nation, doesn't it?

[Michel Roy]

Yes, it does.

[Marc Lemay, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

So it has to be recognized before claims are filed.

[Michel Roy]

That's right. And when it comes to self-government, the community's ability to take charge of its own affairs also must be assessed. All that needs to be thrown into the mix.

[Marc Lemay, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

Before considering claims, self-government, and land claims, the community has to have held its own consultations.

[Michel Roy]

Yes, that's right.

[Marc Lemay, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

They have an issue which isn't very clear to politicians, myself included. We get bombarded with questions on this.

Take the example of the Métis in Quebec. Three quarters of Quebec belongs to the Métis and the aboriginals. So what do you do there? It's not clear. In my opinion, the Quebec government really needs to take a look at this. And that applies to the other provinces too, even Ontario. The fact is, there are Algonquians on either side of the Ontario border. And three quarters of Ontario belongs to them.

Are there any joint negotiation tables? In Quebec, there aren't any.

[Michel Roy]

Between which groups?

[Marc Lemay, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

Between the Algonquians or the Attikameks or the Innus, for example, and the department.

[Michel Roy]

There are negotiation tables for land claims between the Quebec Innus and the Attikameks. As far as the Algonquians are concerned, there's one in Ontario, which covers the Outaouais region, but there still aren't any in Quebec.

[Marc Lemay, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

There is one speaker left. I have a couple of follow-up questions, so I may take one of the government slots to finish up.

Let's go to Ms. Crowder for five minutes, and then we'll try to wrap this up. We'll have time left for our committee discussions.

Ms. Crowder.

[Jean Crowder, NDP, Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC]

I want to go back to the surplus crown lands. The Auditor General's report says that in 1998 INAC received authority and funding to acquire and hold lands. You said that was a different department, but it's part of comprehensive land claims.

[Michel Roy]

I'm sorry about that. For surplus crown lands, we have a specific program and an initiative within the department to acquire those lands when and if a treaty is negotiated, and we know we are planning that the land will be used in the context of modern treaties. Then we can acquire the land.

[Jean Crowder, NDP, Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC]

For example, in Nanaimo there's a DND site that's largely vacant. Would you negotiate with DND for that site for the Tsawataineuk?

[Michel Roy]

If DND declared that land surplus—

[Jean Crowder, NDP, Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC]

So they have to declare it surplus first.

[Michel Roy]

Yes. Then there is a process within government. We are one player among others that could be there to say we need that land.

[Jean Crowder, NDP, Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC]

So you can't influence them.

[Michel Roy]

No. It's up to them to decide.

[Jean Crowder, NDP, Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC]

I have a quick question on implementation. It came up here around the land claims coalition implementation group. Of course, a couple of years ago they did a report and made a number of recommendations. The renewal of those is seriously behind for many of those nations--by three to five years. They're almost at the next round of renewal.