New report says time has come for national discussion on resource revenue sharing with First Nations
- EFN Staff | May 05, 2015
Resource revenue sharing with First Nations continues to be a hot topic after a new report that says governments should seriously examine the proposal.
Governments in provinces such as Alberta and Saskatchewan currently take in billions of dollars in royalties each year from development in the natural resource industry which includes oil and gas, uranium and potash.
A number of First Nations leaders and advocates have long argued resource revenues should be directly shared as a way of truly honouring the treaties and leveling the economic playing field between First Nations and non-First Nations people.
However, governments have been reluctant to consider the proposal.
Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall has said on a number of occasions that resource revenue sharing with First Nations is not open for discussion.
Yet, a new report, First Nations and Natural Resource Development: Advancing Positive, Impactful Change, says this exactly what governments should be doing.
A five-member working group wrote the 40-page report which was commissioned by the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Assembly of First Nations.
The report’s mandate was to identify ways First Nations people and communities can fully share in the benefits of natural resource development.
The working group spent over a year extensively studying natural resource projects and gaining feedback from both industry and First Nations leaders.
It notes that between 2008 and 2012 governments took in $30 billion in natural resource revenues and the industry accounts for roughly 1.8 million direct and indirect jobs.
The natural resource industry is also the largest private employer of Aboriginal people at 8.3 per cent.
It is estimated over the next decade Canada’s investment in the natural resource sector could reach as high as $675 billion.
Amongst its various recommendations, the report says a national discussion should be convened between government, industry and First Nations stakeholders which would examine resource revenue sharing as a best means of eliminating socio-economic disparities.
Current Assembly of First Nations Leader and former Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations Chief Perry Bellegarde has long advocated for resource revenue sharing with First Nations.
He says the proposal’s time has come.
“It’s a concept, whether you call it resource revenue sharing, greater participation in the economy or equity ownership in major projects – it’s all about getting involved,” he says. “And getting First Nations involved on every step of the way of major projects from start to finish. It’s value added.”
University of Saskatchewan professor Ken Coates is another big proponent of resource revenue sharing with First Nations.
He says industry has taken the lead on resource revenue sharing and it is now time for governments to get on board.
“There’s 260 resource revenue sharing, or impact and benefit, agreements across the country right now,” he says. “And if you had actually suggested that ten years ago, people would have said, ‘Oh, we might have five.’ So, something is actually happening really quickly and it’s happening on the corporate front faster than the government front.”
The report also says the natural resource industry; employers and unions should work with government and First Nations to create a targeted strategy to address First Nations’ employment needs.
It adds a plan needs to be developed that facilitates meaningful involvement in natural resource development for First Nations including the environmental and land management process.
Click here for more News stories.