Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee on June 16th, 2026

[The Chair, Liberal, Terry Sheehan]

I call this meeting to order.

Welcome to meeting number 38 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs. We recognize that we meet on the unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinabe people.

Pursuant to the order of the House of June 12, the committee is studying Bill C-27, final self-government agreement for the Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę act.

Today's meeting is taking place in a hybrid format. Members may be attending in person in the room or remotely on the Zoom application. The folks we have online have passed their tech tests and also have the translation available, so we will be able to go forward. If I need to suspend, we will suspend to resolve any technical issues as necessary.

Please remember that just one person can speak at a time. It's very difficult for the interpreters—our wonderful interpreters, who do such a great job—and it really does crack loudly in their ears. It hurts. Let's be cognitive of that. Please wait to be recognized by me, and make sure your questions are through me.

As well, before we proceed with the witnesses, I need approval for a budget of $1,000. It has been distributed.

Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt said budget?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Terry Sheehan]

I would now like to welcome our witnesses from the Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę Government Inc., Sherry Hodgson, president, and Paul Tan. They're appearing by video conference.

You have five minutes to present. Please go ahead.

[Sherry Hodgson, President, Tlegohli Got’ine Government Inc.]

Thank you very much.

Good morning. On behalf of the Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę Government and its citizens, I want to thank everyone for allowing us the opportunity to speak before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs about Bill C-27.

The creation of the Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę Government will provide stability and certainty for local investment and development, with recognition of our ancestral identity through education, policy and program delivery. Passing Bill C-27 will provide parliamentary recognition and acknowledgement of our right to self-determination within the Constitution framework of Canada. This right to self-determination is established through the Sahtu Dene and Metis Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement.

Once we receive parliamentary recognition and acknowledgement of the right to self-determination, we will be able to exercise indigenous decision-making authority that accommodates our ancestral traditions and the modern living standard and needs of our citizens. Specifically, we can represent ourselves in protecting our heritage and pursuing economic opportunities that align with national security and sovereignty through government-to-government relationships.

Bill C-27 and our final self-government agreement do not grant our self-government with additional aboriginal titles or expand existing ones. What we will have is what is already provided through the Sahtu Dene and Metis Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement. The Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę Government will continue to function within the town of Norman Wells and be a stable source of revenue for our community.

The community is at a critical juncture, as our biggest economic driver is shutting down. We have anticipated this day. However, once Bill C-27 is passed, the Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę Government will be able to directly participate in opening up resource exploration and other economic development opportunities. I want to be clear: Our final self-government agreement does not take away private land titles. In fact, we encourage private sector investment at fair market value and provide equitable treatment for our citizens.

With this, I ask this committee and all members of Parliament to pass this bill as soon as possible so that we can have an effective date of August 1, 2026. Otherwise, we will be required to hold a general election on September 7, 2026. As I do not want to run for an elected position again and I also do not want to leave behind an incomplete transition process, as that will create uncertainty and instability, I want to complete this transition so that the next leadership will inherit a functioning self-government, allowing them to focus on attracting investments, generating economic opportunities and creating programs and services that preserve our indigenous heritage.

Mahsi cho. Thank you very much.

[The Chair, Liberal, Terry Sheehan]

Thank you very much. We will proceed to our questions.

For the first round, the Conservatives have six minutes.

MP Schmale, you're first.

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

Thank you very much, Chair.

Thank you to our witnesses.

Madam President and Paul, it's nice to see you again. Thank you for all your assistance in responding to all those emails so quickly. I don't know how you did it. I messaged you at some pretty weird times and you shot back some answers. I do appreciate that. I think that collaboration was able to get us to the point we are at now, which is hopefully dispensing of this today, if possible.

Madam President, you've said that you want this passed as quickly as possible. Do you see any changes that you wish to incorporate, or is the implementation legislation and agreement as you want it? Is it correct, in your eyes?

[Sherry Hodgson]

Yes, it is correct. Thank you very much for the question. I don't see the need for any changes at this time.

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

No changes in the implementation.... The agreement's fine. Everything's good. That actually does help as we try to move this forward.

You mentioned, in your opening remarks, the work building on the Sahtu Dene and Metis Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement. That was done in 1993, give or take. It was the final agreement under Prime Minister Brian Mulroney.

I understand your government has advocated for economic development in the north—specifically around the opening of a number of mines—and the benefits associated with that. You did talk about your economic driver shutting down, that being Imperial Oil. I'm sorry to hear about that. I understand your government has a few businesses tied to the operation. That seems as though it's going to be a massive hit to your community and to your people.

[Sherry Hodgson]

Yes, with the closing of Imperial Oil, there will be some changes within the community. However, for the foreseeable future of what is going to happen there, I believe that we'll be continuing, for several years to come, with the work that we actually do, as you mentioned—our businesses.

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

Can you talk more about the work that you are expecting to do in the coming years?

[Sherry Hodgson]

We will continue to provide the work that we are doing to date: marine services and the process through environmental work that we do with both companies that we have. What we will see in the future, with the new final self-government agreement in place, will be the regulatory process. We will also have opportunities that will come with the facilities that will be required for restoration processes on reclamation work.

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

It's my understanding that the existing pipeline has basically come to the end of its useful life and needs to be replaced. It's caught up in a few environmental assessments. Has the government reached out at all, to your knowledge, either to the company or to you as the government of your nation around Norman Wells? Has it offered to fast-track the assessment to ensure some certainty to Imperial Oil, maybe to get a few more years out of their operations?

[Paul Tan, Chief Operating Officer and Negotiator, Tlegohli Got’ine Government Inc.]

I would like to answer that, if that's possible.

Right now, the EA process has been ongoing. We've reached out for the section 35 consultation via the NEB, or the inheritor of it, to engage with us. The importance of it is that as a self-government, Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę Government will be able to directly participate in the engagement, where our voices will be heard directly, and to advocate our support for the process. This way, it allows us to engage in a much more economical fashion versus being engaged as an aboriginal stakeholder through the Sahtu Secretariat Incorporated.

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

That does definitely speak to the urgent matter we're dealing with in front of us.

My concern is that Parliament has given the government pretty much every tool it needs to ensure that projects like this get approved as quickly as possible while doing the proper consultation, yet it doesn't seem that it's actually using this tool, which could provide a massive number of jobs and massive opportunity and wealth, not only for Norman Wells but also for surrounding areas.

Looking at my research here, about 70% of the tax revenue collected by the village of Norman Wells is from the Imperial Oil facility.

[The Chair, Liberal, Terry Sheehan]

Unfortunately, that brings us to the end. With only 10 seconds left, perhaps you could submit that in writing, or perhaps it'll come out later. Thank you.

Next, we go to MP Hanley.

Thank you.

[Brendan Hanley, Liberal, Yukon, YT]

Thank you very much for your testimony, President and Mr. Tan. It's nice to see you out there in Norman Wells.

I might begin by asking if you care to reply to my colleague Mr. Schmale's question, as an opening.

[Paul Tan]

Thank you.

As with every single regulatory process, the regulatory process we've engaged in takes time. The issue we have with the regulatory process is that, right now, we want to make sure the economic standards are increased where we continue to participate.

Once Bill C-27 is passed.... Its importance is that it would allow the TGG to directly advocate for the economic drivers to exist. We could continue to ensure that the regulatory process is not delayed and that indigenous voices are heard directly versus being filtered through as indigenous stakeholders.

[Brendan Hanley, Liberal, Yukon, YT]

Thank you very much.

President Hodgson, this self-government process, as you referred to it, originates from the Sahtu Dene and Metis Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement that goes back to 1993.

When you look at the history and at how this is now becoming, imminently, the establishment of a modern treaty.... Can you talk about the significance, apart from trying to achieve this within your presidency, of course? I completely understand that, but what about its significance, at this time, not just in terms of the economic circumstances you're being presented with but also in terms of progress towards the benefits that come with the establishment of a modern treaty?

[Sherry Hodgson]

At the beginning of the negotiation process that started decades ago, the elders wanted to see the future and the benefit of self-governing ourselves, the same as it had been years ago. From then to where we are today, the benefit of the final self-government agreement for citizens is being able to govern ourselves in every way—economic activity, traditions, education and having our voices heard on a level we have been wanting to see for decades, throughout the negotiation process.

For me, as president—as I mentioned, I'm not seeking re-election—the certainty of having this foundation set, through the work of the citizens, is what I would like to see. It's what they want to see.

[Brendan Hanley, Liberal, Yukon, YT]

Thank you for that reflection.

I am curious about your thoughts on Bill C-10, which, I imagine, you've been following. That's the legislation to establish a commissioner for modern treaties. It's currently at third reading.

I wonder whether you can comment on this as we move through the passing of this legislation. Hopefully, we get there. How do you feel about the importance of Bill C-10—establishing the office of a commissioner for modern treaties?

[Paul Tan]

Mr. Hanley, if I may, I would like to answer that on behalf of Sherry and the organization.

The Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę Government supports Bill C-10 because, once Bill C-27 is passed, we'll be a member of that. We believe Bill C-10 not only advocates for us but also provides a single voice for all modern treaties, including self-government agreements. We look forward to engaging and working with the commissioner for modern treaties.

[Brendan Hanley, Liberal, Yukon, YT]

Thank you very much. That's good to hear.

I'll cede to Ms. Idlout for the final 45 seconds, if I may, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Terry Sheehan]

I was going to remind you of the time. Thank you.

[Lori Idlout, Liberal, Nunavut, NU]

Just very quickly—and thank you so much for appearing at our committee—could you share with us the extent of the celebration that would happen if this bill were to pass and whether there would be any opposition from other parties regarding this bill?

Qujannamiik.

[Paul Tan]

If I understand the question, you are asking whether or not we will have a celebration and if there is any other opposition outside of the parliamentary process.