Evidence of meeting #18 for Indigenous and Northern Affairs in the 41st Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was coalition.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Chief Executive Officer, Nisga'a Nation, Land Claims Agreements Coalition
You're probably referring to our fiscal financing agreement.
Chief Executive Officer, Nisga'a Nation, Land Claims Agreements Coalition
That agreement is contained under chapter 9 of the treaty on fiscal relations, and it is negotiated every five years. This is one area where we had a great deal of frustration. It took us four years. We went 10 years into that five-year agreement before it was finally concluded.
We are aware that Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development is considering something called a fiscal harmonization policy, which is of great concern to us, in terms of complying with the Nisga'a Treaty.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Chris Warkentin
Mr. Tolmie and Mr. Clarke, your time has expired.
Ms. Duncan, you have five minutes.
NDP
Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Mr. Kunuk, would I be correct in understanding that you use some of the implementation dollars for educating and training Nunavutians, the members of your community, so they can participate in the development of your government infrastructures and the future economy?
One of the concerns you raised in your brief is about the process of how government determines how much money should be delivered under the terms of your treaty. I'm wondering if you can give me an answer by combining those together.
Is it one of your requests, expectations, or obligations under your land claims agreements/self-government agreements that resources will be transferred so you can actually develop your government institutions, review bodies, development bodies, and so forth? Are you receiving sufficient dollars to build your capacity?
Director of Implementation, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., Land Claims Agreements Coalition
Thank you, Chairman.
Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. has been involved throughout negotiations towards devolution that would enhance transfer of ownership to the Nunavut government from INAC. So that would definitely be one component of building strength into the ability of the Inuit to go into government jobs or get more involved in industry to take part in the economic opportunities.
As well, within our own land claim agreement, under article 23, “Inuit Employment Within Government”, there was an initial insertion of $13 million under Nunavut implementation training, and that was to help enhance the percentage level, which was the representative level of the Nunavut territory to be part of the workforce.
Unfortunately, that hasn't quite met what we wanted to see in the funding. Also, there was an initial injection of NUHRDS, the Nunavut unified human resource development strategy. I don't remember the exact amount, but I think it's in the neighbourhood of $39 million, and it was pre-Nunavut. But unfortunately when it comes to education and training, money is a huge impediment, because $39 million doesn't go very far when you are looking at a representative level of Inuit employment within the government.
I think the transfer of land title to the Nunavut government would definitely make a big difference. As well, as part of that transfer, from the point of view of the Inuit and NTI, there would be some funding to go towards training so they could take on the jobs as part of the devolution of the responsibility.
So there are many areas.... And I know within our own agreements we have impact benefit agreements with the mining industry, so there is that component as well that we haven't touched. Needless to say, when it comes to employment within government, there is still a huge gap. With the federal government, the Inuit employment level is hovering about 29% to 30%, in that area. Nunavut government employment levels are hovering about 48% to 50%, because it changes by the quarter. It is still a huge gap, and from our perspective it was supposed to be a representative level at all grades and occupations, so we're looking at administrative to deputy ministers.
I'll just keep my answer short.
NDP
Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Yes, I know there is a lot to discuss. Thank you for trying to be concise on a very large topic.
I wonder if the grand chief could elaborate a bit on that point. I know from when I lived and worked in the Yukon for three years as assistant deputy of resources.... That was when some of the land claims were still being negotiated. Now you're close to completion...a few more are not resolved.
It sounds like there is some frustration, that until you have the land use plan in place it's hard to have the certainty, or there are concerns on the part of some first nations that they may not have clear benefits from resource development until you have the land use plan.
Is part of that development of the land use plans also the training and gearing up of each first nation to be able to participate in that process to make sure their voices are heard?
Grand Chief, Council of Yukon First Nations, Land Claims Agreements Coalition
As we try to participate in the land use planning process and whatever, we do have a component for building capacity within the self-governing first nations. Their fiscal transfer dollars go directly to them. Nine self-governing first nations are members of the central organization, which is the Council of Yukon First Nations.
We have one department, the secretariat, that deals with all the self-governing first nations. They try to collaborate on all the commonality issues, common projects, or whatever, to stretch their dollars. We have $500,000 annually to support that process of 11 self-governing first nations. It doesn't go very far, but it goes further if they all work together, so we are trying to make those efforts.
We have made application after application and proposal after proposal for funds to address our capacity issues within all of the first nations, but it hasn't been realized yet, and it's causing a huge gap for first nations to participate in all of the areas and in economic development for sure.
We have some very major projects coming up in the Yukon, and first nations are quite fearful that once again we are going to end up on the sidelines instead of being major players.
Conservative
Conservative
David Wilks Conservative Kootenay—Columbia, BC
Thank you, Chair.
It's a great honour to be here.
I'm glad to see Kevin here today. He probably doesn't remember me, but I was stationed in New Aiyansh from 1983 to 1985 with the RCMP. I remember the police office being in the basement with the band office. I clearly remember the early days when Joe Gosnell and Rod Robinson were negotiating the Nisga'a treaty. It's with great pride that they will be remembered for time immemorial for what they did in moving the Nisga'a treaty forward. I have fond memories of my two years there.
With that, Mr. McKay, could you describe the consultation process your organization has participated in with government officials since 2002 to help create this proposed legislation moving forward...?
Chair, Nisga'a Nation, and Coalition Co-chair, Land Claims Agreements Coalition
Are you talking, sir, about the Nisga'a Landholding Transition Act?
Chair, Nisga'a Nation, and Coalition Co-chair, Land Claims Agreements Coalition
Yes. Again, there was no consultation with any governments. The consultations that took place were internal to the Nisga'a Nation on the basis of our jurisdiction, our ownership of the lands, and our law-making authorities.
Conservative
David Wilks Conservative Kootenay—Columbia, BC
So do you see an opportunity where your coalition or group could move forward with the Government of Canada to help that move forward? How do you see your group helping that move forward?
Chair, Nisga'a Nation, and Coalition Co-chair, Land Claims Agreements Coalition
Well, again, as I indicated in my comments, the Landholding Transition Act is unprecedented in Canada, and I believe around the world, as we've been informed. We've always maintained that we're quite willing to share our experience with anybody who wants to learn from our experience, but again, we don't see it as our place to become involved in that kind of exchange of information until we are requested to do so by an aboriginal group or a first nation or whomever.
Conservative
David Wilks Conservative Kootenay—Columbia, BC
Thank you.
I defer the rest of my time to Mr. Clarke.
Conservative
Rob Clarke Conservative Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK
Thank you very much.
How much time do I have left?
Conservative
Conservative
Rob Clarke Conservative Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK
Thank you.
I have a couple of things. I'm still on the capacity-driven issue and just your yearly allocation of funding.
Grand Chief Massie, I wonder how it breaks down. As a first nations band member myself, I'm always curious about how everything breaks down and gets back down to the individual band membership or the first nations community.
Now, forgive me if I'm wrong, but each year, $500,000 is allocated to the regional chief or to the first nations...?
Grand Chief, Council of Yukon First Nations, Land Claims Agreements Coalition
It's to the Council of Yukon First Nations. That's our central organization. It's just—
Conservative
Grand Chief, Council of Yukon First Nations, Land Claims Agreements Coalition
Conservative
Rob Clarke Conservative Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK
Then you allocate it down to the first nations communities from there for...?
Grand Chief, Council of Yukon First Nations, Land Claims Agreements Coalition
No. They come to CYFN and participate around the table, very much like this today.
They cover the costs for the operation of our staff, four people, and then their project base. It just covers the costs of those first nations participating, but it doesn't cover all of their costs, because their costs are greater. It actually comes from the self-governing first nations themselves—their additional costs.
Conservative
Rob Clarke Conservative Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK
Right. The reason I'm asking is that I've had first nations communities that worked in partnership with the regional first nations in collaborative.... Now, here's my question: is there an administrative fee of 15% or anything like this that the region provides on the original cap of $500,000...?