Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee on June 11th, 2026

[Jamie Schmale, Conservative, Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes, ON]

Do you see this as a serious threat?

[Rebecca Alty, Liberal, Northwest Territories, NT]

We continue to review all duty to consult—

[Jamie Schmale, Conservative, Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes, ON]

This is a pretty serious threat. We have non-Canadian entities trying to get standing in our decisions.

[Rebecca Alty, Liberal, Northwest Territories, NT]

For the duty to consult, we review all the legal decisions that come. We appeal them if we disagree. We update our duty to consult and accommodate based on the legal precedents.

[Jamie Schmale, Conservative, Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes, ON]

I have a million other questions on this, but I'm running out of time, and I do want to touch on the K’ómoks Treaty.

You have everything that's happening in British Columbia with the Quw’utsun and how the government in 2018 failed to defend private property. You have the Musqueam agreement. You have neighbouring nations saying they weren't consulted. Now you have the K’ómoks Treaty, and you have neighbouring nations saying they weren't properly consulted and that, in fact, the treaty signed by Canada is impacting their claim.

When you sign a treaty that's a living document, with co-governance, without proper consultation done, how does this add certainty to the process in British Columbia with everything I just mentioned, plus what's going on with the U.S. tribes?

[Rebecca Alty, Liberal, Northwest Territories, NT]

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the question.

[Voices]

Oh, oh!

[Rebecca Alty, Liberal, Northwest Territories, NT]

Sorry. Thank you, Mr. MP, although that's through the chair to you.

There are three treaties currently in B.C. going through the ratification process—the K’ómoks, Kitselas and Kitsumkalum treaties. I do want to put it on the record that for all three, the lands covered by the agreements are already owned by either the first nation or the Crown. There's no aboriginal title, no private property—

[Jamie Schmale, Conservative, Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes, ON]

I didn't say anything about private property. My question was about neighbouring nations saying that the land signed over in this treaty and ratified in the British Columbia legislature, soon to be here with implementation legislation, impacted land that they are claiming.

You have Quw’utsun, and you have Musqueam. Now you have another one, with confusion everywhere. You have U.S. tribes trying to get standing in our jurisdiction. British Columbia has just become a mess, because the government doesn't seem to be standing up for one jurisdiction in either case.

[The Chair, Liberal, Terry Sheehan]

That's your time. Thank you very much.

For the last question and answer period, we have MP Hanley.

You have up to five minutes.

[Brendan Hanley, Liberal, Yukon, YT]

Thank you, ministers, for being here. Thanks also to all the officials who are in the room and who have contributed to the preparation.

Minister Alty, I want to start with you. It's been a big week for Yukon territorial chiefs, Yukon territorial government and the many chiefs here in town for Yukon Days in joint meetings with several ministers, including you. As you know, 11 of the 14 Yukon first nations are modern treaty nations. The other three are on different pathways towards self-determination. We've seen the effect of modern treaties through the many successes in the Yukon. We've seen self-government agreements as well that create stable and effective governance and stronger local economies.

I wonder if you can provide an update to this committee on the progress of developing and implementing Canada's collaborative self-government fiscal policy and how that helps to ensure long-term sustainable funding arrangements to support self-governing indigenous governments in delivering programs and services to their citizens.

[Rebecca Alty, Liberal, Northwest Territories, NT]

Thank you, MP Hanley, for the question.

Yes, the collaborative fiscal policy is a great example of working together with modern treaty partners. It's co-developed and predictable funding that respects jurisdiction. The policy is available online if anybody would like to read it.

To date, we've concluded the policy formula for the governance and administration infrastructure—phase one. We're currently in the process of finalizing the languages and cultures infrastructure—phase two—and land and resources. Once we conclude that work to create those formulas, we'll move on to housing and economic development.

It's something I hear in the Yukon, as well as in my home territory, the Northwest Territories. All modern—

[Ginette Lavack, Liberal, St. Boniface—St. Vital, MB]

I have a point of order.

There's a minister answering a question, but I'm having a difficult time hearing because of a conversation in the room.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Terry Sheehan]

Keep the noise down.

[Rebecca Alty, Liberal, Northwest Territories, NT]

One thing modern treaty partners really appreciate is having predictable funding so that they can ensure that they deliver priorities to their communities.

I thank modern treaty partners for their work on this as we continue concluding the other models.

Thank you.

[Brendan Hanley, Liberal, Yukon, YT]

Thanks very much.

I'll go to Minister Chartrand for the remaining couple of minutes I have.

You mentioned, in your opening remarks, the remediation projects that are under Northern and Arctic affairs. I'd like to go back to one of the examples you mentioned, the Faro mine remediation in Yukon territory, which is a long-term commitment and a long-term economic opportunity. Much of that opportunity has enabled Ross River Dena Council citizens, as well as the Dena Nezziddi Development Corporation—both of which were represented here during Yukon Days—to.... I know you met with Chief Loblaw in Ross River nation, as well as the CEO of the Dena Nezziddi Development Corporation.

It's a good time to ask this question: How do you see and support the indigenous procurement opportunities provided through remediation projects such as the Faro mine?

[Rebecca Chartrand, Liberal, Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB]

Thank you for that question.

If we're looking at northern contaminated sites, the Faro mine remediation project has completed the Yukon environmental assessment process and is now preparing to submit applications for water licence and Fisheries Act authorization. The Faro water treatment plant tender was cancelled in 2024, and CIRNAC is working with Public Services and Procurement Canada to explore new procurement and additional water treatment options.

We're continuing to work to support indigenous procurement. It's one of the most effective ways to help grow economic reconciliation in the north. The goal is not simply to award contracts. It's also about growing jobs and capacity. We're working with the other initiatives we've been rolling out.

For example, we're looking to grow up to 100,000 new Red Seals. We're doing a scan of the north and working with territorial governments to get a sense of readiness in terms of uptake and to support that. Do we have enough training opportunities, and the bricks and mortar? Can we get bums in seats? What are ways we could do that? We're continuing to look at all the possible options to ensure that we keep building on the Faro mine remediation project, not only to clean it up responsibly but also to look at procurement opportunities and economic development opportunities. That is a huge commitment we have.

[The Chair, Liberal, Terry Sheehan]

Thank you very much for that.

[Rebecca Chartrand, Liberal, Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Terry Sheehan]

This brings us to the end. We have to go vote.

I want to thank both ministers for their important testimony and work, as well as the staff who joined us today.

Chi-meegwetch.

Do I have permission to adjourn?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Terry Sheehan]

Thank you. The meeting is adjourned.