Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee on May 12th, 2015

[The Chair, Conservative, Blake Richards]

We'll move to Mr. Seeback now.

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Brampton West, ON]

Great.

There are six new entrants that have been authorized by the minister to enter into the FNLMA regime. I assume that there are more than six that are interested in getting into the regime. What's the bottleneck to getting people into the regime? What I've heard at this committee over the last four years is that those operational first nations under the FNLMA have much more economic success, by and large, than first nations that are not. My goal would be to find a way to get as many that want to be in the regime into the regime. What's the challenge?

[Chief Austin Bear]

Funding is always a challenge. By means of the framework agreement and the requirements of the implementation of the framework agreement, funds have to follow each entrant, not only for developmental but when they become operational. There have to be adequate funds available to support the first nations through the developmental phase.

If there are funds available to do six.... Right now there are six, because they're replacing six that are at the wayside.

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Brampton West, ON]

Six that have moved into operational, is that what—

[Chief Austin Bear]

No. They have parked themselves because of some other matters that couldn't be dealt with, so there were delays.

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Brampton West, ON]

Okay.

[Chief Austin Bear]

Rather than waste the time and the money, the six others came forward.

We anticipate, with the new announcement in the budget of $30.3 million over the next five years, or whatever the term is, that in the near future, perhaps sometime in the summer months or the fall, there may be an announcement. We anticipate an announcement, perhaps, for another 28.

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Brampton West, ON]

Do you have any idea what the interest is, in addition to 28? Is it 50? Is it 100?

[Chief Austin Bear]

As I mentioned earlier, I think the interest.... The last, I understand, or the last number I have is around about 60. At one point it was about 85 or 90 with known letters of interest and band council resolutions on file submitted by the first nations.

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Brampton West, ON]

So there are 112 signatories, and about 60 are interested. With the new funding, you think that about 28—

[Chief Austin Bear]

I suspect.

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Brampton West, ON]

—will move in. Again, math is not my strong suit. That means you have 34.

[Chief Austin Bear]

Yes, 34. That's what I suspect.

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Brampton West, ON]

Right.

[William McCue]

Some of the difficulty, too, is that the actual standard that was set for communities to—

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Brampton West, ON]

For entrance...?

[William McCue]

For ratification of the vote.

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Brampton West, ON]

What's that standard? I'm not familiar with it.

[William McCue]

It's a majority of registered voters, I think. Although it was a high standard, it has been achieved by quite a number, but quite a few communities have voted in favour but have not met the threshold that was set. It's not the same as voting on a land claim or....

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Brampton West, ON]

Okay. But for these 60 to express interest, is it just a question of a letter saying that they are interested and to please put them on the list?

[William McCue]

Yes, it's a band council resolution.

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Brampton West, ON]

So it's a band council resolution saying that they're interested in entering into the FNLMA.

All right, so now you're on the list.

[William McCue]

Yes.

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Brampton West, ON]

That's where the 60 are. They've passed a band council resolution and then until they actually get in, do they not have to do anything else?

[William McCue]

No.