Thanks, Chair. Certainly without all the interruptions I would have been finished, but it's par for the course around here with all the high carbon hypocrisy.
Just to respond to MP Angus's remarks about motive, what I am talking about here today and the way I'm talking about it is not remotely new. I have consistently advocated on these issues repeatedly in my various roles relating to natural resources, including on behalf of the five first nations and four Métis settlements that I represent in Lakeland and on behalf of the indigenous communities in Alberta and certainly right across the country. This isn't remotely new or a show, like he said.
Let me lead with the words of Manny Jules, the chief commissioner of the First Nations Tax Commission. He has spent his life's work fighting for recognition of inherent rights and title and advocating for tax and other fiscal capacity and economic opportunities for indigenous people.
He said:
In 1910, my ancestors asked then Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier to accommodate our jurisdiction and fiscal powers in Canada. We wanted to look after ourselves and be part of the economy. Instead, they took our children and denied our rights, fiscal powers, and jurisdictions. This approach has failed. It’s time for a real change. The First Nations Resource Charge is a practical step towards the better future my ancestors asked for 114 years ago—together [with all Canadians and governments] we will make each other great and good.
I would also like to share the words of Chief George Lampreau from the Simpcw First Nation in B.C. He said:
The Simpcw First Nation is leading the First Nations Resource Charge. I call on the federal and provincial governments to cede room for the first governments of Canada to implement a First Nations Resource Charge. Real change means all governments need to offer tax room instead of revenue sharing.
He continued:
The FNRC will provide a good option for First Nations, especially those who have not had the same opportunities as urban communities, like my community, Simpcw. However, even if we choose to use this option, we will still need to build on it through negotiation, to develop fully comprehensive agreements. Those agreements must ensure that we can take advantage of the economic opportunities that projects bring and that our voices are heard with respect to understanding the environmental impacts of major projects on our historic lands.
Let me share the words of Chief Derek Epp from the Tzeachten First Nation in B.C. He said:
Thirty years ago, like many First Nations, we were 95% dependent on federal transfers; now, 95% of our revenues are from our tax and other own sources. The Fiscal Management Act...and the Framework Agreement...helped us take advantage of our location advantage. Similarly, the Resource Charge supported by the FMA and FA is going to help a lot of rural communities take advantage of their resource advantages.
The Tzeachten First Nation also stated:
First Nation jurisdiction should be a non-partisan issue, and we call on all parties and provinces to do the same and support the FNRC.
The Tzeachten First Nation has been a leader in First Nation tax and jurisdiction initiatives [including their] work with the First Nations Tax Commission to advance the FNRC along with other First Nation fiscal powers....
Currently, First Nations must negotiate economic and fiscal agreements for every proposed project in our territories. No other government in Canada must do that. These constant one-off negotiations are wasting time and money.
It is good to see the Conservative Party of Canada propose to cede some of the federal corporate tax room. The First Nations leading the FNRC proposal, and the First Nations Tax Commission will hold them to this commitment.
That is a commitment that our leader, the Honourable Pierre Poilievre, made on Friday.
They state that it “represents practical reconciliation. It addresses long-standing grievances and starts to bring the first governments of Canada, First Nations, into the federation. Confederation was based on the fiction that First Nation rights didn’t still exist.”
They point out that:
The Indian Act legislated First Nations out of the economy [and that the] FNRC will help right these historic wrongs and begin to legislate First Nations back into the economy.
The FNRC allows interested First Nations to become more self-reliant. It will mean First Nations can begin to close the many infrastructure and service gaps that exist between them and other Canadians [including] education, health, social, and environmental services.