Evidence of meeting #7 for Indigenous and Northern Affairs in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was process.
A recording is available from Parliament.
10:50 a.m.
Executive Director, Indian Oil and Gas Canada, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Yes, I'd like to add to that. In the area of environment, there are areas in which the provinces do certain things and we do it a certain way. But we really want to clarify the roles of who does what, and that's what this legislation does.
10:50 a.m.
Conservative
Harold Albrecht Conservative Kitchener—Conestoga, ON
So environment and limitation would be two examples. Thank you.
I'll pass it off to Mr. Clarke.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
10:50 a.m.
Conservative
Rob Clarke Conservative Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK
Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you to the witnesses for coming here.
I see that you guys have a lot more information to add, and I'll let you have this opportunity to take my time to address your issues with the committee.
10:50 a.m.
Member of the Board, Indian Resource Council
Thank you.
Mr. Chair, I want to add a bit to what Ms. Crowder was asking about, regarding our royalty investment consultation. In terms of investment, because of the limitations that exist through the Indian Act concerning investment opportunities, there is an opportunity for us as a first nation through the FNOGMMA to opt into the new legislative setting that was put in place to enable us to invest our moneys the way we want to as a nation. In that sense today, unlike the case in the past, there is an opportunity for us to take those opportunities in that way.
For consultation, we did our best with the resources we had to reach as many first nations as possible. As you know, at any large or distant gathering there are only a number of people who can attend, but most of our first nations tend to send the people who have knowledge about those processes to those sites, so that they can in turn return to our communities to disseminate the information and get some input in that way too.
Thank you.
10:50 a.m.
President, Indian Resource Council
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you for giving up some of your time, sir.
I think it is important to note that the development of this bill, the amendment of this bill, is to us only part of a total initiative. We have to modernize the regime we work under; then I think we follow through with some of the other work that we feel has more priority for first nations, such as having a genuine opportunity to take advantage of business opportunities—for too long we have let others reap those benefits—not as royalty receivers but as profit makers. This is where some of our first nations want to head.
You just have to look at Chief James Ahnassay, our other chief, and at Joe, and at some of the business initiatives they are into. For a time, Chief James and his tribe owned five rigs, and they did very well. They still own several, but they have moved some of their rigs and made good profit.
The Frog Lake people are really developing, utilizing new technology in the extraction of heavy oil. The reserves are there; it's only a question of developing the technology of how to extract more heavy oil. They're well into it. They've taken over a lot of the operations from a big company.
In Saskatchewan they're really taking advantage of the TLE settlements that are occurring there. They're not just taking over as royalty receivers; they are engaging on the business side, because they realize that this is where the real return is. You get more resources—not just through money, but you begin to develop your own human resources—through capacity building.
To us, this is really just a part of a bigger process.
10:55 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Bruce Stanton
Thank you, Mr. Fox.
On behalf of all members, I must say thank you, chiefs and vice-chiefs, witnesses, departmental officials. This has been a very informative session. As you can appreciate, there is rarely enough time to get in all of the questions that members would like to pose to you, but this has been extremely helpful in informing the committee's deliberations on this important bill.
Members, we are going to adjourn shortly. There are only two items I wanted to bring your attention to. The first is that you have received or should have received a copy of the budget requirements for this consideration of Bill C-5.
Maybe what we'll do is take that up as an item for consensus on Thursday.
10:55 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Bruce Stanton
Is there any discussion?
(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
Thank you. The budget is adopted.
The second item is just for the benefit of having a reminder that we will be considering topics for study on March 12, the Thursday. Each party and members were to submit their suggestions and priorities for topics of study by six o'clock this coming Thursday. This is just a reminder to do that, through the clerk's office.
There being no other business....
Oh, pardon me, Mr. Duncan, do you have a question?
10:55 a.m.
Conservative
John Duncan Conservative Vancouver Island North, BC
Yes. I'm just wondering whether, as part of that request dealing with agenda items, we shouldn't prioritize somehow, rather than give a laundry list.
10:55 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Bruce Stanton
That's certainly a good suggestion.
Members, when you submit your suggestions on Thursday, if you can assign a priority to them, that will likely be helpful for our deliberations on March 12.
There being no other business, this meeting is adjourned.
