Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  We'll get back to committee members with a precise answer because that's some of our other colleagues who work in that area.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I'll offer an initial answer and then ask my colleagues to join in as well. For this committee, this is actually one of the areas for which there really should be some tremendous optimism. You have a growing reserve land base. You have greater closeness of first nations with nei

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Let me add as well that this is part of a progression, in the sense that taxation authority on reserve has existed for many years now. Then the First Nations Fiscal Management Act came into effect, which enhanced that authority, but not all of the taxing first nations have moved

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Mr. Chair, I would like to provide a very precise answer to the committee, because we maintain those statistics and the numbers are changing over time, but I'll provide some ballpark numbers. We've now moved to approximately 50 operational first nations across the country. It is

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Do you want to answer?

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  It's open to having leases to members and non-members. There is that flexibility. The same flexibility arises under the First Nations Land Management Act. As you said, in many communities they've had tremendous economic success in moving beyond their own members and looking to ha

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  A few communities have been very creative in securing mortgage financing despite the limitations under the Indian Act. In answer to your question, yes, some first nations communities could choose to enter into a more robust lands and housing regime providing leasehold interest t

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I' m going to ask my colleague Brad Cline to answer your question.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you for the question. There are several things. One, I alluded in my comments to some changes in legislation that Parliament adopted, which has provided some improvements. The other item I would raise for your consideration is that we have quite a lot of experience now wit

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I'm glad you asked. There are many things. First of all, let me just offer that there will be an updated KPMG report, some case studies, coming very soon, probably in the next month or so. We would be pleased to share that with committee members. Again, I think it's indicating ve

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  That is a good question. We certainly are trying to emphasize what we have observed in terms of the barriers to access to capital created by the Indian Act system in terms of on-reserve lands management. With respect to your question about off-reserve areas, there it's largely

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. In terms of the role of mainstream and aboriginal financial institutions, the Government of Canada has also been working to mitigate barriers beyond the Indian Act. Major banks and other private lenders provide a limited range of commercial financing to abo

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Chair and honourable members, thank you for inviting us back to discuss some of the challenges experienced by first nations communities and businesses in accessing capital on reserve. I understand that the committee has welcomed some new members since our last chance to appear b

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Okay. I'll skip ahead to say one last point, that I would highlight for the committee, on strengthening land use planning, which can contribute to economic development and create new opportunities. There are some examples of success that we would identify. The First Nations Lan

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you, Madam Chair. Chair and honourable members, thank you for the opportunity to appear today to discuss the challenges experienced by aboriginal communities and businesses in accessing capital, as well as some promising practices in addressing those challenges. Private m