ANOTHER FIRST NATIONS-LED INITIATIVE BECOMES LAW – FIRST NATIONS COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT ACT RECEIVES ROYAL ASSENT

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OTTAWA, ONTARIO (November 28, 2005) - The First Nations Commercial and Industrial Development Act received Royal Assent last Friday. This First Nations-led legislation will help level the playing field for First Nations competing for investment opportunities and foster commercial and industrial development on reserve lands.

This new Act, developed in partnership by the Government of Canada and five partnering First Nations (Squamish Nation of British Columbia, Fort McKay First Nation and Tsuu T’ina Nation of Alberta, Carry the Kettle First Nation of Saskatchewan and Fort William First Nation of Ontario), will enable the federal government at the request of a First Nation to produce regulations that mirror a provincial regime for specific complex commercial and industrial development projects on reserve. This will provide stability concerning the rules that apply to these types of projects through the application of a comprehensive and well understood regulatory regime.

This new Act will address the regulatory gap that exists because up to now federal legislation did not provide the tools to regulate the increasingly large scale and complex commercial and industrial development project on reserve land that First Nations are pursuing. This will allow First Nations to develop their economies, increase self-sufficiency and enhance their quality of life.

“We have worked hard for the past five years to advance Bill C-71 (the First Nations Commercial and Industrial Development Act) and we, with our partnering First Nations, believe this legislation is in the best interests of our communities. This Act will enable the Fort McKay First Nation to have an equal opportunity to benefit from resource extraction projects,” said Chief Jim Boucher of Fort McKay First Nation.

“The Government of Canada is committed to working with First Nations to build stronger indigenous economies, leading to greater economic independence,” said Minister Scott. “This new Act is designed to offer participating First Nations more effective tools to build their own economies and is an excellent example of what the Government of Canada committed to do at the First Ministers Meeting.”

This is an optional piece of legislation for First Nations. Federal regulations will only be made under this Act at the request of an interested First Nation. These regulations would be project-specific, developed in cooperation with the First Nation and the relevant province and would be limited in application to the particular project and lands described in the regulations.

For more information, please contact:

Campbell Morrison, Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Indian Affairs and
Northern Development
(819) 997-0002

Tewanee Joseph
Communication Coordinator
Squamish Nation
(604) 230-3126