Thank you. I am Richard Jock, the chief executive officer of the Assembly of First Nations. I would like to thank you for the opportunity to present to you today. I would also like to acknowledge my colleagues on the panel.
My presentation will really be focused on two solutions or ideas in terms of dealing with the tobacco issue: first, the creation of viable economic alternatives; and second, supporting a continuum of approaches in order to cut demand for tobacco in first nations communities.
My discussion of economic opportunities will be both general and focused on the issue at hand. In general, I would state that the capacity and ability of first nations to explore economic opportunities is in large part dependent on the ability to develop relationships and partnerships with various aspects of both the Canadian state and the private sector.
In just looking at one sector, Canada's resource sector, it has really a tremendous future in store for it, in that we know the current projections of the federal government are that approximately $300 billion in new developments will occur in largely first nations territories, or adjacent to first nations territories, in the next 10 years.
Therefore, looking at the general concept of resource revenue sharing, developing effective partnerships with first nations in terms of the sectors I mentioned earlier will result in effective and sustainable first nations economies. These approaches are really forward looking, but don't deal with some of the sectors that are already well developed. These really represent options economically to tobacco trade and reliance on the tobacco trade.
I think if we look at the successful example of the Victor Diamond Mine and developments with the Attawapiskat First Nation in Ontario, this is where it will be effective, in that the mine will create hundreds of jobs, will result in more than a decade of employment, and will make a significant contribution to the economies of Canada, Ontario, and obviously the first nations of that territory. So first nations are very interested in developing such effective and sustainable partnerships and arrangements.
This is embodied in the Assembly of First Nations economic blueprint, one that has broad engagement from first nations across the country. Other options include developing economic alternatives such as supporting entrepreneurship and ensuring quality education and opportunities for training--that these are available.
More focused on the issue at hand is the concept that there should be direct programs of economic replacement. One consideration would be to look at the program of the 1980s, where Agriculture Canada paid Canadian tobacco farmers to switch to alternative crops. In addition, there are a number of agricultural subsidies, ranging from 65% to 85%, depending on how you calculate that, in terms of supporting diversification of opportunity for the agricultural sector. We submit that there should be a similar program developed that could result in a similar focus in terms of engaging in other business areas of activity and encouraging those in communities where it is desirable to reduce reliance on the tobacco trade.
Perhaps one concept would be to have a well-known economist, somebody like David Dodge, the former Governor of the Bank of Canada, study what would be some relevant and appropriate economic measures in support of communities that wish to pursue these options.
Developing viable economic alternatives to the tobacco trade is one way of reducing tobacco sales.
The other solution is really to reduce the demand for tobacco. I think it's pretty clear that across the country we're all aware of the health risks associated with smoking. However, it still remains that first nations smoking rates are three times the Canadian average, with rates as high as 61% among young women aged 15 to 17. Yet the first nations and Inuit tobacco control program that began in April 2001, which was successful in decreasing the uptake of smoking among youth, was terminated by the federal government in September 2006. To us, this is really not understandable, especially since the first nations and Inuit tobacco control program was the only part of the larger federal tobacco control strategy that was cut.
In spite of this, I would like to refer to a recent survey of 223 first nations health directors that shows that communities are doing their part to cut tobacco misuse. In fact, 76% have reported that their community has restrictions against smoking in public places, and 54% said they have activities aimed at encouraging members to become smoke-free.
Despite these efforts, first nations people are less knowledgeable about the risks associated with smoking than are other Canadians and know little about how to assist smokers to quit. It's obvious from this survey that there's insufficient information and material about tobacco cessation in their communities.
In closing, I'd like to say that the approaches that should be considered by this committee should be broad-spectrum in approach, that there be consideration of economic development and economic replacement as part of the strategy, and, further, that the demand side of the equation in terms of reducing the demand for tobacco will not only resolve health issues in the long term but will also reduce interest in buying the tobacco itself.
Last, I want to conclude by saying that the issues involving first nations really must be dealt with by working with first nations. I think we've heard an important call for that from the Grand Chief of Kahnawake, that imposed solutions have been repeatedly shown not to work.
As a final comment, I was a bit surprised to see that the AFN was alluded to in this consultation document in terms of a strategy, since I'm not aware of any formal consultation with AFN or their involvement in developing this strategy.
With that, I'd like to thank you.