Evidence of meeting #6 for Industry, Science and Technology in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was battery.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
Do I have any speaking time left, Mr. Chair?
Liberal
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
Then I'd better stop now, or you might have to interrupt someone else.
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
Thanks very much to all the witnesses once again for their testimony, which has been very interesting. We also have to do a second round of additional questions with all the witnesses we've heard today.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Joël Lightbound
It was indeed very interesting.
We have a final round of questions remaining.
Over to Mr. Gaheer now for five minutes.
Liberal
Iqwinder Gaheer Liberal Mississauga—Malton, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you to the panellists for making time for us.
The panellists have really drilled the point that Canada can be that international supply of ethical minerals. My first question is in that vein.
Mr. Walker, this question was asked earlier as well, but I'll give you more time to expand on it: What engagements and partnerships with indigenous communities have you undertaken in northern Ontario? You mentioned exploration agreements. What do these agreements look like, and how do they ensure that the rights of indigenous peoples are protected?
President and Chief Executive Officer, Frontier Lithium
On the first part, with regard to exploration agreements, they're very encompassing, with everything from respect for existing treaty rights that occur for various communities to assisting in building capacity with the communities as the progression of exploration towards development takes place. This also includes the creation of business opportunities and collaboration with regard to any matters surrounding investments, and working together with government with regard to infrastructure pieces that are so desperately required around critical mineral assets in the north.
It's a process. Through that process, it's about building meaningful partnership, trusting, and really understanding the constraints that may exist for particular communities so that, as you go through that process, you're in a situation to really understand potential impacts if a mine can take place.
That's really what takes place on building. It's about people and relationships, and that's at the heart of all business and building opportunities for the indigenous communities.
Liberal
Iqwinder Gaheer Liberal Mississauga—Malton, ON
That's great. Thank you.
You mentioned long permitting processes as well, that it takes a very long time to get a permit. Do you think permit times can be reduced, and if so, where? Could they be reduced without lowering our standards for mining ethical minerals?
President and Chief Executive Officer, Frontier Lithium
That's a very loaded question. I'll do my best.
As you know, and as we've seen around the world, especially here in Canada, there's a huge turnover with regard to labour and capacity. We're seeing the boomers retire. We're losing a lot of experience.
One of our observations is that in order to move quickly, we could perhaps start looking at collaboration with the provinces—in our case here, with Ontario—to put together SWAT teams or those few experts who truly understand the window of opportunity in a particular new commodity such as lithium, in order to focus on assets that can be really meaningful toward building out the value chain. Through that process, what's important, really—tying back into the indigenous question—is, again, building up the understanding, especially in the north, of what exploration through to the mining development means and building the capacity for maximizing indigenous participation. That really is the place where we see governments at various levels playing huge roles in really helping to facilitate.
As one last point, what we would really like to see is the possibility for resource revenue sharing for indigenous communities in their respective traditional areas, to really create alignment with the players: from communities to government to proponents such as ourselves. Align the players accordingly, moving forward swiftly, as a requirement of what we're all discussing here today. It's going to be so much easier. That's a great way to maximize participation.
There's one last thing with regard to indigenous communities from an income tax perspective, which is just a thought I had while someone else was talking here. When community members work on reserves—for example, here in Ontario—there's really no income tax. Once they step outside of the reserve—and let's face it, the assets don't sit within reservations in their respective treaty areas—they're outside of that. In order to encourage, perhaps government could look at a reduction in income tax for those indigenous members to work in their traditional lands and incentivize further participation in order to build out a strong ESG and a great brand for Canada in participation in building the supply chain.
Thank you.
Liberal
Liberal
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Joël Lightbound
I know.
This concludes our last round of questioning. On behalf of the committee, I want to thank all of our witnesses today. This has been a really productive meeting that will help us as we continue to go forward with this study. Thank you for your time. It's much appreciated.
Stay safe, everyone.
This meeting is adjourned.