FORT FRANCES – While touring Northwestern Ontario, the leader of the official opposition Pierre Poilievre spoke to Dougall Media about his campaign promise to install a First Nations Resource Charge (FNRC) that will enable First Nations to get 50 per cent of revenue from resource collection project in treaty territory instead of the money going straight to the federal government's Impact Benefit Agreements.
“What I want to do is allow First Nations communities to collect more own source revenues by having a First Nations Resource Charge that allows businesses to pay half their corporate tax to the First Nations on which they do their business,” Poilievre told Newswatch.
“If they're logging or mining in a First Nations community, then they can actually pay half of their corporate tax directly to that community rather than having all of it go to the government that will allow more own source revenue that pays for water.”
Poilievre's proposed plan also states the FNRC is optional for those willing to participate but does not stop any community from continuing with other existing arrangements, such as Impact Benefit Agreements.
In a news release, Poilievre proclaims that participating First Nations choose the FNRC to replace the financial component in Impact Benefit Agreements or supplement IBAs, as they wish.
Above all, the release states that the FNRC still respects all treaty rights and all constitutional rights -- including the Duty to Consult.
More to the point, Poilievre attests that under the FNRC the benefit is economic reconciliation.
“Treatment plans, job training, education, health care on reserve in communities that give more autonomy and brings home control of money to the First Nations themselves,” said Poilievre.
However, Minister of Indigenous Services, Patty Hajdu, thinks Poilievre's proposal to be a little short-sighted.
Hajdu wondered what Poilievre will cut to accomplish such a proposal.
“What services is he going to cut? He's also said that for every dollar spent; he wants to see a dollar cut. I can tell you the stream of funding I'm responsible for that would be devastating to First Nations. Will it be education or child welfare? Will he go after Jordan's Principle? So, I think the deeper questions have to be asked.”
For those opting into the FNRC, the Poilievre government would cut services under the jurisdiction of Indigenous Services.
Hajdu said under the federal government Procurement Strategy First Nations get five per cent off the bat while also providing a $5 billion capital loan guarantee for Indigenous businesses.
“Our government has been working with Indigenous communities on reconciliation… We work on reconciliation through a number of different economic streams,” Hajdu told Newswatch.
