Date: 2000
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THIS AGREEMENT made May 11, 2000,
BETWEEN:
HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN IN RIGHT OF CANADA, as represented by the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
("Canada")
OF THE FIRST PART
AND:
HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN IN RIGHT OF THE PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, as represented by the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs
("British Comumbia")
OF THE SECOND PART
AND:
NISGA'A NATION, as represented by the Nisga'a Lisims Government Executive
(the "Nisga'a Nation")
OF THE THIRD PART
WHEREAS:
NOW THEREFORE in consideration of the premises and the covenants and agreements set out below, the Parties agree as follows:
1. Words and expressions not defined in this Agreement but defined in the Nisga'a Final Agreement have the meanings ascribed to them in the Nisga'a Final Agreement.
2. In this Agreement, unless the context requires otherwise:
"commercial and investment activities" means:
"effective date" means the date upon which the Nisga'a Final Agreement takes effect;
"fiscal financing agreement" means a fiscal financing agreement within the meaning of that term in the Fiscal Relations Chapter;
"fiscal year" means the period that commences on April 1st of a year and ends on March 31st of the next year, or another period if the Parties agree by amending this Agreement;
"generally accepted accounting principles" means the accounting principles generally accepted in Canada from time to time and if the handbook published by the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants or its successor includes a relevant statement of a principle or an accounting guideline, that statement will be considered conclusively to be an accounting principle or guideline generally accepted in Canada;
"Lisims Fisheries Conservation Trust" means the trust that Canada and the Nisga'a Nation have agreed to establish under paragraph 96 of the Fisheries Chapter;
revenue capacity for a fiscal year prepared under paragraph 23;
"Nisga'a tax" means:
"Nisga'a Final Agreement" means the Nisga'a Final Agreement signed on behalf of the Nisga'a Nation and Her Majesty in right of British Columbia on April 27, 1999, and Her Majesty in right of Canada on May 4, 1999, and includes any amendments made to that Agreement from time to time in accordance with its provisions;
"other Nisga'a revenues" means the revenues of the Nisga'a Nation, a Nisga'a Village, a Nisga'a government corporation, a Nisga'a exempt corporation or a corporation without share capital established and operated for the benefit of the Nisga'a Nation or a Nisga'a Village, or any combination of them, other than revenue in respect of:
"Parties" means the parties to this Agreement and "Party" means any of them;
"Taxation Agreement" means a Taxation Agreement within the meaning of that term in the Taxation Chapter;
"Tripartite Finance Committee" means the Tripartite Finance Committee established under this Agreement.
3. The categories charge or fee, commercial and investment activities, Nisga'a tax and other Nisga'a revenues are mutually exclusive categories and, for greater certainty, a revenue allocated to one category cannot be allocated to another.
4. If a provision of this Agreement applies in respect of a Nisga'a exempt corporation, the own source revenue capacity that results:
5. Nisga'a Nation own source revenue capacity for a fiscal year is the specified percentage of the aggregate of the own source revenue capacities for the fiscal year in respect of commercial and investment activities, Nisga'a taxes, Nisga'a settlement trusts, charges and fees, and other Nisga'a revenues, as determined in accordance with this Agreement.
6. In paragraph 5, "specified percentage" is 0% for each of the first two fiscal years commencing on or after the effective date, 5% for each of the third and fourth fiscal years, 10% for the fifth fiscal year, 15% for the sixth fiscal year, 20% for the seventh fiscal year, 30% for the eighth fiscal year, 40% for the ninth fiscal year, 55% for the tenth fiscal year, 70% for the eleventh fiscal year, 85% for the twelfth fiscal year, and 100% for the thirteenth and subsequent fiscal years.
7. Subject to paragraphs 4 and 19, the own source revenue capacity for a fiscal year in respect of commercial and investment activities is the aggregate of amounts, each of which is equal to the income tax, corporation capital tax or other tax (other than a tax referred to in paragraphs 24 and 26 of the Taxation Agreement) that would be payable for the fiscal year to a government in Canada in respect of the commercial and investment activities by the Nisga'a Nation, a Nisga'a Village, a Nisga'a government corporation, a Nisga'a exempt corporation, or a corporation without share capital established and operated for the benefit of the Nisga'a Nation or a Nisga'a Village, or any combination of them, as the case may be, if each were not exempt from the income tax, corporation capital tax or other tax, under laws of general application, and if the assumptions in paragraphs 8 to 11 applied.
8. For the purposes of paragraph 7, the Nisga'a Nation and each Nisga'a Village will be assumed to be:
9. The taxes referred to in paragraph 7 will be determined on the assumption that each entity referred to in paragraph 7:
10. In determining the own source revenue capacity in respect of a commercial or investment activity that is the exploitation of an interest in a forest resource on Nisga'a Lands or Nisga'a Fee Simple Lands:
11. In determining the own source revenue capacity in respect of a commercial and investment activity that is the exploitation of an interest in a mineral resource or natural accumulation of petroleum or natural gas, the Income Tax Act will be read without reference to paragraphs 12(1)(o), 12(1)(z.5), 18(1)(m) and 20(1)(v.1), and subsections 69(6) and 69(7) thereof.
12. Subject to paragraph 19, the own source revenue capacity for a fiscal year in respect of Nisga'a taxes is the sum of all amounts, each of which is the amount determined in respect of each Nisga'a tax in accordance with subparagraph 16(c) of the Fiscal Relations Chapter, except that in applying that subparagraph:
13. Subject to subparagraph 19(c), own source revenue capacity for a fiscal year in respect of Nisga'a settlement trusts is the sum of the amounts determined by multiplying the taxable income of each Nisga'a settlement trust for its taxation year ended in the fiscal year by the composite tax rate for the fiscal year.
14. In paragraph 13, "composite tax rate" is intended to be approximately equal to the net change in the sum of all income taxes, transaction taxes, and refundable tax credits that would have accrued to a government in Canada from all Nisga'a citizens as beneficiaries of the trust if, under the terms of each Nisga'a settlement trust, an amount equal to the taxable income of the trust for its taxation year ended in the fiscal year had been made payable in that taxation year in equal shares to those Nisga'a citizens, and:
15. In paragraphs 13 and 14, "taxable income" and "taxation year" have the same meanings as in the Income Tax Act.
16. Subject to paragraph 19, own source revenue capacity for a fiscal year in respect of charges or fees is the amount determined by applying the inclusion rate to the aggregate of amounts, each of which is the amount by which the receipts of the Nisga'a Nation, a Nisga'a Village, a Nisga'a government corporation or a Nisga'a exempt corporation, in the fiscal year in respect of a charge or fee exceed the reasonably deductible costs, including reasonable allowances for depreciation and amortization, that are incurred in the fiscal year for the purposes of levying, and that would not have been incurred but for the imposition of, that charge or fee.
17. In paragraph 16, "inclusion rate" is 46.0%.
18. Subject to paragraph 19, own source revenue capacity in respect of other Nisga'a revenues is the own source revenue capacity that would be determined in respect of the revenue if it were a charge or fee.
19. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, Nisga'a Nation own source revenue capacity for a fiscal year does not include any amount in respect of:
20. In determining the sum of the net transfers by Canada and British Columbia to the Nisga'a Nation under a fiscal financing agreement for each fiscal year commencing on or after the effective date (each a " particular year"), the Parties will deduct:
21. In paragraph 20, "estimated Nisga'a Nation OSRC amount" for a particular year is an amount equal to the aggregate referred to in paragraph 5 for the second fiscal year preceding the particular year, as reported in the Nisga'a OSRC annual report for that second preceding fiscal year, multiplied by the specified percentage for the particular year.
22. In paragraph 21, "specified percentage" is 0% for each of the first two fiscal years commencing on or after the effective date, 5% for each of the third and fourth fiscal years, 10% for the fifth fiscal year, 15% for the sixth fiscal year, 20% for the seventh fiscal year, 30% for the eighth fiscal year, 40% for the ninth fiscal year, 55% for the tenth fiscal year, 70% for the eleventh fiscal year, 85% for the twelfth fiscal year, and 100% for the thirteenth and subsequent fiscal years.
23. Within nine months after the end of each fiscal year, the Nisga'a Nation will prepare a Nisga'a Nation OSRC annual report substantially in the form of Schedule B for that fiscal year setting out:
and provide a copy to Canada and British Columbia.
24. For purposes of providing information for negotiation of the next own source revenue agreement, the Nisga'a Nation OSRC annual report for a fiscal year will include an analysis that compares the own source revenue capacity for that year in respect of commercial and investment activities that is determined under this Agreement with the amount that would be determined if own source revenue capacity in respect of commercial and investment activities for that year were:
25. At any time within four years of the Nisga'a Nation OSRC annual report for a fiscal year being provided to Canada and British Columbia under paragraph 23, a Party may notify the other Parties that it disagrees with the determination of an amount reported in that report.
26. Notwithstanding paragraph 25, at any time a Party may notify the other Parties that it disagrees with the determination of an amount included in a Nisga'a Nation OSRC annual report for a fiscal year:
27. A notice given by a Party under paragraph 25 or 26 will:
28. Within 45 days of the date of a notice given by a Party under paragraph 25 or 26, each of the other Parties may respond in writing to the notice, setting out:
29. If the Parties fail to resolve a matter, in respect of which a notice is given under paragraph 25 or 26, by informal discussion within 60 days after the date of that notice, a Party may within 90 days after the date of that notice give another Party a notice of dispute in respect of the matter.
30. All accounts and financial statements required to be prepared under this Agreement will be prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
31. The financial records of the Nisga'a Nation, a Nisga'a Village, a Nisga'a government corporation or a Nisga'a settlement trust, for a fiscal year will be:
32. A Tripartite Finance Committee will be:
33. The members of the Tripartite Finance Committee will:
34. A Tripartite Finance Committee member may bring resource persons to meetings as they consider appropriate to assist in fulfilling their responsibilities under this Agreement.
35. The Parties desire and expect that a dispute arising from this Agreement will be resolved by informal discussion between the disputing Parties.
36. If the dispute is not resolved by informal discussion within 60 days of a Party notifying another Party of the dispute, it will be referred to the Tripartite Finance Committee.
37. If the Tripartite Finance Committee fails to resolve a dispute within 45 days of the dispute being referred to it, or a longer period if the Parties agree, the dispute will be dealt with under the Dispute Resolution Chapter and, for greater certainty, the dispute will be considered to be a dispute for the purposes of that Chapter.
38. The discussions in paragraphs 35 to 37 will be considered to be "collaborative negotiations" for the purposes of the Dispute Resolution Chapter.
39. The Parties will share information as required for the purposes of implementing and monitoring this Agreement and to facilitate the negotiation of future own source revenue agreements.
40. The term of this Agreement:
41. Unless a Party provides each of the other Parties, no less than fifteen months before the term of this Agreement, as extended from time to time under this paragraph, ends under subparagraph 40(b), with a notice to end this Agreement, the time at which the term of this Agreement ends under subparagraph 40(b) will be extended by two years.
42. For greater certainty, paragraphs 40 and 41 are intended to result in the term of this Agreement continuing unless a Party provides notice under paragraph 41 to end this Agreement.
43. At least one year before the end of the term of this Agreement, Canada, British Columbia and the Nisga'a Nation will begin negotiating the next own source revenue agreement.
44. If the Parties do not reach a further own source revenue agreement by the end of the term of this Agreement, this Agreement will continue in effect for a period of two years from the end of the term of this Agreement while they attempt to reach the further own source revenue agreement.
45. The following Schedules are attached to and form part of this Agreement:
46. The following Schedule is attached to this Agreement for convenience only, does not form part of this Agreement and in no way defines, limits, alters or enlarges the scope or meaning of any provision of this Agreement:
47. Any amendment to this Agreement must be in writing and executed by all Parties.
48. No term or condition of this Agreement, or performance by a Party of a covenant under this Agreement, will be deemed to have been waived unless the waiver is in writing and signed by the Party or Parties giving the waiver.
49. No written waiver of a term or condition of this Agreement, of performance by a Party of a covenant under this Agreement, or of default by a Party of a covenant under this Agreement, will be deemed to be a waiver of any other covenant, term or condition, or of any subsequent default.
50. The Parties will execute any other documents and do any other things that may be necessary to carry out the intent of this Agreement.
50. In this Agreement:
52. This Agreement does not form part of the Nisga'a Final Agreement.
53. This Agreement is not intended to be a treaty or a land claim agreement, and is not intended to recognize or affirm aboriginal or treaty rights, within the meaning of sections 25 and 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982.
54. Time is of the essence in this Agreement.
55. If any part of this Agreement is declared or held invalid for any reason, the invalidity of that part will not affect the validity of the remainder which will continue in full force and effect and be construed as if this Agreement had been executed without the invalid portion.
56. This Agreement will enure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Parties and their respective permitted assigns.
57. Unless otherwise agreed by the Parties, this Agreement may not be assigned, either in whole or in part, by any Party to it.
58. Unless otherwise provided, a notice, document, request, approval, authorization, consent or other communication (each a "communication") required or permitted to be given or made under this Agreement must be in writing and may be given or made in one or more of the following ways:
59. A communication will be considered to have been given or made, and received:
60. A communication must be delivered, transmitted to the facsimile number or mailed to the address of the intended recipient set out below:
A Party may change its address or facsimile number by giving a notice of the change to the other Parties in the manner set out above.
THIS AGREEMENT HAS BEEN EXECUTED as of the day and year first above written.
The composite tax rate ("CTR") in paragraph 14 of this Agreement, as calculated in Table 1, is determined as follows:
CTR= is the sum over (i) of Ci
where:
The composite tax rate will be calculated in accordance with this Schedule for the third and each subsequent fiscal financing agreement (FFA), using the latest available data as of the calculation date and will remain fixed for the duration of each FFA. It will be recalculated 90 days prior to the FFA.
Table 1 sets out the calculation of the composite tax rate.
| A | B | C | |
| Income Range (i) 1999$ | Aboriginal Income Distribution | Combined Marginal Rate | Product of A and B |
|---|---|---|---|
| $ 0-$ 4,999 | 55.2% | 5.0% | 2.8% |
| $ 5,000-$ 9,999 | 11.5% | 20.5% | 2.4% |
| $10,000-$14,999 | 8.7% | 27.8% | 2.4% |
| $15,000-$19,999 | 5.6% | 31.4% | 1.7% |
| $20,000-$24,999 | 4.5% | 36.2% | 1.6% |
| $25,000-$29,999 | 3.5% | 44.6% | 1.6% |
| $30,000-$34,999 | 2.5% | 57.2% | 1.5% |
| $35,000-$39,999 | 2.4% | 56.5% | 1.4% |
| $40,000-$44,999 | 1.7% | 49.9% | 0.8% |
| $45,000-$49,999 | 1.5% | 48.5% | 0.7% |
| $50,000+ | 2.8% | 48.5% | 1.3% |
| CTR = sum over (i) of Ci | 18.2% | ||
Column A sets out Ai, the estimated percentage of British Columbia resident aboriginal people having total annual incomes, including government transfers, within each income range (i). The estimates are based on British Columbia On and Off Reserve Aboriginal Income Distribution data obtained from Statistics Canada Catalogue No.(94-325) for the most recent year available (1991). This information is adjusted to 1999. Future composite tax rate calculations will use income distribution data for Nisga'a citizens, if available at the time, and if the Parties agree.
If the composite tax rate is calculated when current income distribution data is not available either for British Columbia resident aboriginal people or Nisga'a citizens, the calculation will be prepared on the assumption that:
Column B sets out the combined marginal net tax rate Bi applicable to each income range (i), as determined from Table 2.
Column C sets out the composite tax rate Ci for each income range (i). Ci is the product of Ai and Bi. The composite tax rate in paragraph 14 of this Agreement is the sum of column C.
Table 2 sets out the rates of tax and the rate of reduction in tax system credits and benefits, that apply in British Columbia to additional income earned by an individual in income range (i), base don tax policies in effect on December 31, 1997. The amount Bi is the sum of row (i) for income range (i).
| Marginal Income Tax Rate (1997 Rates) | Marginal Transaction Tax Rates (1997 Rates) | Tax Credit & Benefit Reduction Rate (1997 Rates) | Combined Marginal Net Tax Rate (Bi) | |||||
| Income Range (i) 1999 $ | Federal Income Tax (T1) | BC Income Tax (T2) | Federal Income Surtax (T3) | GST (T4) | PST (T5) | Fuel (T6) | (T7) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-$4,999 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 3.0% | 2.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 5.0% |
| $5,000-$9,999 | 10.2% | 5.2% | 0.3% | 3.0% | 2.0% | 0.0% | -0.2% | 20.5% |
| $10,000-$14,999 | 17.0% | 8.7% | 0.5% | 3.0% | 2.0% | 1.0% | -4.4% | 27.8% |
| $15,000-$19,999 | 17.0% | 8.7% | 0.5% | 3.0% | 2.0% | 1.0% | -0.8% | 31.4% |
| $20,000-$24,999 | 17.0% | 8.7% | 0.5% | 3.0% | 2.0% | 1.0% | 4.0% | 36.2% |
| $25,000-$29,999 | 17.0% | 8.7% | 0.5% | 3.0% | 2.0% | 1.0% | 12.4% | 44.6% |
| $30,000-$34,999 | 24.2% | 12.3% | 0.7% | 3.0% | 2.0% | 1.0% | 14.0% | 57.2% |
| $35,000- $39,999 | 26.0% | 13.3% | 0.8% | 3.0% | 2.0% | 1.0% | 10.4% | 56.5% |
| $40,000-$44,999 | 26.0% | 13.3% | 0.8% | 3.0% | 2.0% | 1.0% | 3.8% | 49.9% |
| $45,000-$49,999 | 26.0% | 13.3% | 0.8% | 3.0% | 2.0% | 1.0% | 2.4% | 48.5% |
| $50,000+ | 26.0% | 13.3% | 0.8% | 3.0% | 2.0% | 1.0% | 2.4% | 48.5% |
The rates are determined by the rates and rules in effect under applicable federal and provincial laws, for individuals in each income range at the time of the calculation and the assumptions that are made with respect to those individuals as set out in this schedule. If a tax, tax credit or benefit is introduced, eliminated, or restructured, Table 2 will be adjusted to reflect that change in a manner consistent with the method used to estimate the other rates in the table.
The following paragraphs and tables outline how the rates in Table 2 were determined for each type of tax and benefit.
| Tax (1997 Rates) [Note 1] | Tax Category | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Federal Income Tax | taxable income of $7,000 to $29,590 [Note 1] taxable income of $29,591 [Note 2] to $59,180 taxable income greater than $59,181 [Note 2] |
17% 26% 29% |
| BC Income Tax | all income categories | 51% of Federal Income Tax Rate |
| Federal Income Surtax | all income categories | 3% of Federal Income Tax Rate |
| Transaction Tax (1997 Rates) | Category | Marginal Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Goods and Services Tax ("GST") | All income categories | 3.0% |
| Provincial Sales Tax ("PST") | All income categories | 2.0% |
| Fuel Tax | Income $10,000 and below Income above $10,000 |
0.0% 1.0% |
The marginal rate of GST was derived as follows:
Note: It is recognized that incomes less than $7,000 do not pay income tax so that 100% of each new dollar is disposable income. But, it is assumed that these individuals spend a greater po rtion of their incomes on items such as food and shelter which are not subject to GST. It is assumed that:
In Table 2, it is assumed that 2/3 of goods and services that are subject to GST also are subject to PST, which is 7%. Consequently, the marginal PST rate included in Table 2 is 2/3 of the marginal GST rate (i.e. 2/3 X 65% X 65% X 7%).
In Table 2, it is assumed that 2.4% of each additional dollar of income is spent on fuel, based on the Household Expenditure Survey for British Columbia, 1992, and that federal excise tax and provincial motor fuel tax together represent 42% of the assumed expenditure.
| Income Range (i) 1997 $ | Income Supplement | BC Family Bonus | Child Tax Benefit | PST Credit | GST Credit | Combined Rate [Note 3] |
Adjusted Combined Rate [Note 4] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $0-$4,999 | -0.2% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | -0.0% | -0.2% | 0.0% |
| $5,000-$9,999 | -4.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | -0.4% | -4.4% | -0.2% |
| $10,000- $14,999 | -0.8% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | -0.8% | -4.4% |
| $15,000-$19,999 | 0.0% | 3.0% | 0.0% | 1.0% | 0.0% | 4.0% | -0.8% |
| $20,000- $24,999 | 3.9% | 7.8% | 0.0% | 0.7% | 0.0% | 12.4% | 4.0% |
| $25,000-$29,999 | 1.0% | 7.8% | 1.9% | 0.0% | 3.3% | 14.0% | 12.4% |
| $30,000-$34,999 | 0.0% | 4.7% | 2.4% | 0.0% | 3.3% | 10.4% | 14.0% |
| $35,000-$39,999 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2.4% | 0.0% | 1.4% | 3.8% | 10.4% |
| $40,000-$44,999 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2.4% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2.4% | 3.8% |
| $45,000-$49,999 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2.4% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2.4% | 2.4% |
| $50,000+ | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2.4% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2.4% | 2.4% |
The following chart is based on information from Statistics Canada for the Aboriginal population in British Columbia, based on the 1991 census.
| Category | Percentage of Total Population | Percentage of Adult Population |
|---|---|---|
| Couples without children | 10.7% | 19.1% |
| Couples with children | 22.0% | 39.2% |
| Lone Parents | 5.6% | 10.1% |
| Non Family Person | 17.8% | 31.7% |
| Children | 44.0% | 0% |
Each benefit is adjusted (multiplied) by the percentage of the adult population who is eligible to receive it. The following table outlines the assumptions made about each benefit.
This Schedule is attached to the Nisga'a Nation Own Source Revenue Agreement for convenience only, does not form part of that Agreement and in no way defines, limits, alters or enlarges the scope or meaning of any provision of that Agreement.
Any reference in this Schedule to a provision of the Income Tax Act reflects legislation in effect at December 31, 1999 and does not reflect amendments enacted after that date. For greater certainty, any amount in Nisga'a Nation own source revenue capacity that is determined with reference to a taxing statute will be determined with reference to that statute as it may be amended from time to time.
Funding of the Nisga'a Nation and Nisga'a Villages is to be a shared responsibility of Canada, British Columbia and the Nisga'a Nation.
The Parties will enter into fiscal financing agreements whereby Canada and British Columbia will transfer funding to enable the Nisga'a Nation to provide specified public programs and services. The amount of the transfer will reflect, among other things, the financial contribution("Nisga'a Nation own source revenue capacity") to be made by the Nisga'a Nation out of its ownrevenue resources. That financial contribution will be determined and applied pursuant to a separate own source revenue agreement among the Parties, as described in this schedule.
The Nisga'a Nation Own Source Revenue ("OSR") Agreement:
Components of Nisga'a Nation Own Source Revenue Capacity
The OSR Agreement contemplates that the Nisga'a Nation own source revenues will be derived from five principal sources:
In general, and subject to specific exclusions and transitional rules, the Nisga'a Nation own source revenue capacity in respect of these revenue sources will be an approximation of the tax revenues and other levies that Canadian governments might be expected to derive from similar revenue sources within their jurisdiction.
Excluded Revenues
Certain items are permanently excluded from the Nisga'a Nation own source revenue capacity. In general, these excluded items represent property transferred to the Nisga'a Nation under the Nisga'a Final Agreement (the "Treaty"), or proceeds from the sale thereof, incomes identified and specifically dedicated to pre-identified government purposes, such as income earned by the Nisga'a capital finance authority, gifts received from third parties, and inter-government transfers of revenues that have otherwise already been contemplated in the determination.
Transitional Rules
Transactions taxes and other taxes payable by Nisga'a citizens to the Nisga'a Nation, which ordinarily would be included, will be excluded from Nisga'a Nation own source revenue capacity during, respectively, the first eight and twelve years immediately following the effective date [Note 5] of the Treaty.
Nisga'a Nation own source revenue capacity will be phased in on a staged and incremental basis over the first twelve years following the effective date, so that only a specified percentage of the amount otherwise determined will be taken into account in each of those years. Income and capital gains of the Nisga'a settlement trust will not be taken into account for the first twelve years commencing on or after the effective date.
Organization of OSR Agreement
A "Nisga'a exempt corporation", as defined in paragraph 1 of the Fiscal Relations Chapter [Note 6] of the Treaty, is a corporation, other than a Nisga'a government corporation, in which the Nisga'a Nation or a Nisga'a Village has a direct or indirect interest as a shareholder and that is exempt from Canadian federal or provincial income tax. A corporation will be a "Nisga'a exempt corporation", if it meets certain tests set out in subsections 149(1)(d.3) to (d.6) of the Income Tax Act, as follows:
Paragraph 4(a) ensures that Nisga'a Nation own source revenue capacity does not include any share of the revenues of a Nisga'a exempt corporation that ultimately will accrue to the benefit of a shareholder other than the Nisga'a Nation, a Nisga'a Village or a Nisga'a settlement trust.
For instance, in example (a) above, only 41% of the own source revenue capacity attributable to Compa
Paragraph 4(b) provides that, where the Nisga'a Nation and Nisga'a Villages, acting alone or together, cannot cause a particular Nisga'a exempt corporation to pay dividends, the own source revenue capacity attributable to the corporation will be taken into account only when and to the extent that the corporation distributes that own source revenue capacity as a dividend to the Nisga'a Nation, a Nisga'a Village or a Nisga'a government corporation.
In example (a) above, assume that in Year 1 Company B sells its shares of Company C and realises a $500 capital gain. Company B's only asset was its investment in Company C. In Year 2, Company B pays a $250 dividend to Company A.
Company A had no retained earnings at the beginning of Year 2. In Year 2, Company A receives the $250 dividend from Company B and earns $1,000 of commercial business income from its own operations. Company A pays a $500 dividend to its shareholders at the end of Year 2. The Nisga'a Nation's share of the $500 dividend is $205.
Nisga'a Nation own source revenue capacity for Year 2 will include 44.339% [100 x(39.215% [Note 8] of $250 + 45.62% [Note 9] of $1000)/($250 + $1,000)] of the $205 dividend, or $91.
Paragraph 5 is the charging provision of the OSR Agreement. This paragraph constitutes the definition of Nisga'a Nation own source revenue capacity and, hence, defines the amount of the Nisga'a Nation's financial contribution under its fiscal financing agreements.
Under paragraph 5, Nisga'a Nation own source revenue capacity for a fiscal year is defined to be the "specified percentage", described in paragraph 6, of the aggregate of:
Paragraphs 7 to 11 implement the principle expressed in paragraph 16(d) of the Fiscal Relations Chapter.
Paragraph 7 defines "own source revenue capacity in respect of commercial and investment activities" for purposes of the definition of "Nisga'a Nation own source revenue capacity" in paragraph 4. Under paragraph 7, own source revenue capacity in respect of commercial and investment activities is the sum of each tax, other than a tax under the Mineral Tax Act, Mining Tax Act, Petroleum and Natural Gas Act or Mineral Land Tax Act referred to paragraphs 24 or 26 of the Nisga'a Nation Taxation Agreement, that would be payable to a government in Canada by the Nisga'a Nation, the Nisga'a Villages, Nisga'a government corporations, Nisga'a exempt corporations, and certain corporations without share capital, if:
Each entity will compute the corporate tax that it would pay for the particular fiscal year, if it were subject to tax under the rules that apply to private corporations in the commercial mainstream and, if the relevant assumptions applied. For that purpose, the entity's tax will be computed in accordance with the rules that are in effect for the particular year under each of the relevant taxing statutes.
For instance:
The parties will be guided, in applying the relevant statutory rules for a particular year, by the applicable decided jurisprudence, published interpretations, and published rulings that are available to the public as at the end of that year.
The calculation under paragraph 7 contemplates commercial and investment activities of the Nisga'a Nation, the Nisga'a Villages, Nisga'a government corporations [Note 10], Nisga'a exempt corporations [Note 11], and corporations without share capital that are established and operated for the benefit of the Nisga'a Nation and/or a Nisga'a Village.
Many Nisga'a government corporations [Note 12] will be subject to tax under laws of general application. In addition, the Nisga'a Nation, Nisga'a Villages and Nisga'a exempt corporations may be subject to tax under some taxing statutes. In those cases, the Nisga'a Nation, Nisga'a Villages, Nisga'a government corporations and Nisga'a exempt corporations will pay those taxes under the normal rules. The bases upon which those taxes are levied will be excluded from the amounts used to calculate Nisga'a Nation own source revenue capacity, pursuant to subparagraph 16(e) of the Fiscal Relations.
On the other hand, there may be an instance where a provision in a law of general application exempts a taxable Canadian corporation from a particular tax in respect of a particular commercial or investment activity. The Nisga'a Nation or a Nisga'a Village would be similarly exempt from that tax, if it were a privately owned taxable Canadian corporation and engaged in that activity. Thus, no amount will be included in respect of that tax in own source revenue capacity under paragraph 7 when that activity is carried on by any of the Nisga'a Nation, a Nisga'a Village, a Nisga'a government corporation, a Nisga'a exempt corporation or a corporation without share capital established and operated for the benefit of the Nisga'a Nation or a Nisga'a Village.
Subparagraph 8(a) provides that, for purposes of computing the amounts to be included in own source revenue capacity under paragraph 7, the Nisga'a Nation and each Nisga'a Village will be treated as if it were a private corporation incorporated in Canada on the effective date, all of the shares of which were owned by one or more individuals resident in Canada. Under these assumptions, the Nisga'a Nation and each Nisga'a Village will be treated as if it were a taxable "Canadian controlled private corporation" (within the meaning of the Income Tax Act) for purposes of approximating the tax revenues that Canadian governments would expect to derive if the Nisga'a Nation's and Nisga'a Villages' commercial activities were carried out by the private sector. A Canadian controlled private corporation is the typical operating structure for similarly sized Canadian private enterprises in the commercial sector.
Subparagraph 8(b) provides for purposes of paragraph 7, that the Nisga'a Nation and the Nisga'a Villages are assumed to be unrelated parties which deal with each other at arm's length. This rule establishes certain base line assumptions to assist the Parties in deciding how the rules in various taxing statutes are to be applied for purposes of determining own source revenue capacity in respect of commercial and investment activities. Certain statutes apply different thresholds for allowable deductions, tax rates and tax credits, depending on whether the particular "taxpayer" is related to, or deals at arm's length with another.
For example, under the assumptions in subparagraph 8(b), there will be five groups of corporations. The Nisga'a Nation and its subsidiary companies will constitute one group. The four Nisga'a Villages, each with its own subsidiary companies, will constitute the others. Each company within a particular group will be related to, and "associated" (within the meaning of the Income Tax Act) with each other company in that group, but will not be associated with, or related to, any company in any other group. Each "associated group" will be entitled to its own "small business deduction", in computing own source revenue capacity in respect of the first $200,000 of active business income [Note 13] that is earned by that group for the fiscal year. That "small business deduction" will have to be shared among all of the members in that group, but will not have to be shared with any other company in any other group. Similarly, each group will be entitled to its own capital deduction9, which will be shared among the members of that group, for purposes of computing the notional large corporations tax liability of each group member for that year.
Paragraph 9 sets out certain assumptions to be used for purposes of computing own source revenue capacity in paragraph 7.
Subparagraph 9(a) provides that the amount under paragraph 7 will be determined on the assumption that each entity referred to in that paragraph 7 has a fiscal period coincident with the fiscal year ending on March 31 in each calendar year. This assumption simplifies reporting and ensures that both sides of inter-company transactions are reflected in the same accounting period for purposes of computing own source revenue capacity.
Subparagraph 9(b) provides that the own source revenue capacity for a fiscal year in respect of commercial and investment activities will be determined based on an assumption that each entity referred to in paragraph 7 did not carry on any activity, other than its commercial and investment activities. Similarly, subparagraph 9(c) assumes that each such entity did not own any property, except to the extent that the property was employed by the entity in a commercial or investment activity in the year. These provisions ensure that property, revenues and expenses associated with public programs and services, the capital finance authority or other activities of the entity are not taken into account in determining the own source revenue capacity in respect of the entity's commercial and investment activities.
Subparagraph 9(d)(i) provides that no deduction will be made in computing income or taxable income, for purposes of computing own source revenue capacity in respect of commercial and investment activities under paragraph 7, for any amount to the extent that the amount reasonably can be considered to be an expenditure in respect of:
Nisga'a governments and their agencies may be engaged in a number of activities at any given time: e.g., providing public programs and services funded under fiscal financing agreements, providing programs and services which are contemplated but not funded under fiscal financing agreements, providing public programs and services which are neither contemplated nor funded under fiscal financing agreements, commercial business activities, investment activities, etc. Certain administrative, overhead or other costs incurred by an entity will be allocable to specific activities while other administrative, overhead or costs will be joint costs that benefit the entity's activities as a whole. The inclusion of subparagraph 9(d)(i)(A) in the OSR Agreement clarifies that each reporting entity should analyse its expenditures to ensure that they are charged to, or allocated among, its activities on an appropriate and reasonable basis for purposes of determining amounts to be included in own source revenue capacity under paragraph 7.
In addition, subparagraph 9(d)(i)(B) recognises that Nisga'a governments will both govern and exploit the natural resources on Nisga'a Lands, and that certain types of expenses may be common to both roles. Subparagraph 9(d)(i)(B) attempts to draw a line, for resources other than a forestry resource, to distinguish those expenses that commonly would be regarded as being necessary or ordinary to the exploitation of a natural resource by a private entrepreneur, from other expenses incurred by Nisga'a governments or their agencies in respect of the resource. The express exception for forestry resources recognises that, for certain tenures on provincial Crown land, the provincial government incurs expenditures of a type (e.g., construction of roads, bridges, silvaculture, etc.) that, in other circumstances, normally would be the responsibility of the entrepreneur or freehold landowner. Thus, it would not be appropriate to deny the ability to deduct such expenditures in computing income from the forestry resource, simply because the expenditures are comparable in nature to an activity carried on by a provincial government.
Subparagraph 9(d)(i) is included in the OSR Agreement for greater certainty. It does not override provisions of the Income Tax Act that require deductible expenditures to be laid out by the taxpayer for the purpose of earning income from a business or property and that they be reasonable in the circumstances.
Subparagraph 9(d)(ii) is an anti-avoidance provision to prevent an entity referred to in paragraph 7 from artificially reducing its own source revenue capacity by making of a tax deductible gift to another entity that provides goods or services primarily to Nisga'a citizens. A gift received by the Nisga'a Nation, a Nisga'a Village or a Nisga'a Institution is expressly excluded from Nisga'a Nation own source revenue capacity pursuant to subparagraph 19(h). Absent subparagraph 9(d)(ii), the Nisga'a Nation and Nisga'a Villages would be able to reduce own source revenue capacity in respect of commercial and investment activities simply by making donations to each other. Subparagraph 9(d)(ii) also prevents the deduction of gifts made to other parties that provide goods or services primarily to Nisga'a citizens. Such gifts could be used to indirectly enrich the Nisga'a Nation or a Nisga'a Village, if the provision of goods or services by the donee satisfies the Nisga'a Nation's obligation under a fiscal financing agreement to provide goods and services to Nisga'a citizens. In such case, the gift by the Nisga'a Nation to the third party would be equivalent to the Nisga'a Nation making a gift to itself, and if allowed as a deduction, could result in the artificial reduction of own source revenue capacity.
Paragraph 9 provides that own source revenue capacity in respect of commercial and investment activities will be determined under paragraph 7 based on the assumption that the Nisga'a Nation and each Nisga'a Village was allowed a deduction in computing corporation capital tax of an amount equal to the carrying value of any estate or interest it held in Nisga'a Lands on which there were no improvements or on which there was a designated improvement.
Subparagraph 10(a) is provided for greater certainty to ensure that, for purposes of calculating depletion expense of an entity referred to in paragraph 7 in relation to an interest in a forest resource on Nisga'a Lands, and for purposes of computing the amount of previously claimed depletion that is recovered through a subsequent sale of that interest, the interest shall be deemed to have been originally acquired by the entity at a cost equal to:
The reference to the Nisga'a Nation, Nisga'a Villages and Nisga'a government corporations above and in subparagraph 10(a)(ii) is included in order to prevent entities referred to in paragraph 7 from artificially increasing the base for depletion by trading interests in forest resources on Nisga'a Lands. Proceeds from the sale of Nisga'a Lands or Nisga'a fee simple Lands are not taken into account in determining Nisga'a Nation own source revenue capacity, by virtue of paragraph 18(a) of the Fiscal Relations Chapter (except as discussed in "Paragraph 19" below). Thus, absent the reference in subparagraph 10(a)(ii) to the prescribed entities, it would have been possible to sell interests between the parties at fair market value without own source revenue capacity consequences and thereby artificially increase future depletion allowances on the transferred interests.
Subparagraph 10(b) is included for greater certainty. It provides that, for purposes of determining own source revenue capacity under paragraph 7, no deduction will be allowed in respect of an outlay or expenditure in relation to the management or development of a forest resource, except to the extent that the outlay or expenditure was made or incurred for the purpose of earning income from the resource and is reasonable in the circumstances. This provision is consistent with and mirrors the general provisions in paragraph 18(1)(a) and section 67 of the Income Tax Act.
Paragraph 11 provides that, for purposes of determining own source revenue capacity in respect of the exploitation of an interest in a mineral, petroleum or natural gas resource, the relevant amount is to be computed as if the Income Tax Act were read without reference to paragraphs 12(1)(o), 12(1)(z.5), 18(1)(m) and 20(1)(v.1) and subsections 69(6) and (7) thereof.
The foregoing provisions of the Income Tax Act, in effect, prohibit taxpayers in the resource industries from deducting Crown royalties and similar payments in computing income for federal income tax purposes and, instead, replace the lost deductions with a special "resource allowance" approximately equal to 25% of the taxpayer's resource profits. These rules were introduced in the early 1970's in recognition of significant increases in provincial Crown royalty rates which, had provincial Crown royalties continued to be deductible for federal tax purposes, would have shifted a significant portion of the federal government's share in resource profits away from Canada to the host provinces.
Pursuant to paragraph 20 of the Lands Chapter of the Treaty, Nisga'a Lisims Government will have exclusive authority to determine collect and administer any fees, rents, royalties or other charges in respect of mineral resources on or under Nisga'a Lands. As a result, the entities referred to in paragraph 7 will not be liable for any provincial Crown royalties in respect of those resources and, as a consequence, the amounts referred to in paragraphs 12(1)(o) and 18(1)(m) and subsections 69(6) and (7) of that Act will be nil in respect of those resources. Similarly, with the elimination of Crown royalty payments, there is no need to compensate the entities for any inability to deduct those payments for federal tax purposes and, thus, there is no need for any reference to the "resource allowance" provisions in paragraphs 12(1)(z.5) and 20(1)(v.1) of the Act when computing own source revenue capacity in respect of the resources.
Paragraph 12 defines own source revenue capacity in respect of Nisga'a taxes [Note 14], for purposes of determining Nisga'a Nation own source revenue capacity under paragraph 5 for a fiscal year.
Under paragraph 12, the Nisga'a Nation will calculate an own source revenue capacity for each type of Nisga'a tax for each fiscal year. The amount for each tax will be calculated in accordance with the rules in subparagraph 16(c) of the Fiscal Relations Chapter, as modified by the rules in paragraph 12. The amounts so determined for all of the types of Nisga'a tax will then be added together to determine the "own source revenue capacity for the fiscal year in respect of Nisga'a taxes" for purposes of paragraph 5.
Paragraph 16(c) of the Fiscal Relations Chapter recognizes that any Nisga'a tax will be imposed under two possible circumstances:
In both cases, the Nisga'a authority to impose the tax will run concurrently with that of Canada and British Columbia and may be exercised with or without the agreement of those Parties to provide the Nisga'a Nation or Nisga'a Village with the room to impose its tax. With tax coordination agreements (see paragraph 3(b) of the Taxation Chapter), the parties will be able to negotiate the sharing of tax room so that individual taxpayers are not taxed excessively relative to taxpayers living in other similar communities.
Paragraph 16(c) of the Fiscal Chapter, as modified by paragraph 12, provides that the own source revenue capacity of a Nisga'a tax will not exceed the sum of:
minus the reasonable costs incurred by the Nisga'a Government in developing and administering the tax system in respect of the tax and in collecting the tax.
For the purposes of (ii)(B) above, the Nisga'a Government's "tax capacity" in respect of the tax will be determined on a fair and reasonable basis, taking into account the circumstances in the Nisga'a communities and in similar communities in northwest British Columbia.
Example 1: assume the Nisga'a Nation imposes a sales tax regime on transactions occurring on Nisga'a Lands:
Example 2: assume a Nisga'a Village institutes a real property tax regime on its Village Lands:
Paragraph 13 defines own source revenue capacity in respect of Nisga'a settlement trusts, for purposes of determining Nisga'a Nation own source revenue capacity under paragraph 5 for a fiscal year.
Under paragraph 13, the Nisga'a Nation will determine the taxable income of each Nisga'a settlement trust for the "taxation year" of the trust which ends in the Nisga'a Nation's fiscal year. That "taxable income" will then be multiplied by the "composite tax rate", as defined in paragraph 14, to arrive at an own source revenue capacity in respect of the particular trust. The amounts so determined in respect of all of the trusts will then be added together to determine the "own source revenue capacity for the fiscal year in respect of Nisga'a settlement trusts" for purposes of paragraph 5.
Paragraph 15 provides for greater certainty that "taxable income" and "taxation year" in paragraphs 13 and 14 have the same meanings as in the Income Tax Act.
Thus, the "taxable income" referred to in paragraphs 13 and 14 will be determined, for example, by including, among other things, 125% of amounts received by the trust on account of dividends from corporations resident in Canada and 75% of the capital gains realised by the trust in the year, and by deducting, among all other amounts deductible in computing the taxable income of a trust under the Income Tax Act, the amount of the income of the trust that is paid or made payable to its beneficiaries in the taxation year.
Under the Income Tax Act, the "taxation year" of an inter-vivos trust is the calendar year.
Paragraph 19 sets out the revenue sources that will not be taken into account in determining Nisga'a Nation own source revenue capacity. Paragraph 19 applies notwithstanding any other provision of the OSR Agreement.
Subparagraph 19(a) provides that Nisga'a Nation own source revenue capacity will not include any amount in respect of proceeds from the sale of Nisga'a Lands or Nisga'a Fee Simple Lands, other than revenues received by the Nisga'a Nation, a Nisga'a Village or a Nisga'a government corporation in the course of renting or licensing the lands, or taking production from the lands, or revenues that reasonably can be considered to represent a recovery of depletion or depreciation that has been claimed as a deduction in the calculation of own source revenue capacity.
Example: Nisga'a Village A owns a parcel of forested Category B Lands outside Nisga'a Lands. On the effective date, the parcel had a fair market value of $200,000 and a residual value (i.e., the fair market value after removal of all merchantable timber) of $50,000.
Nisga'a Village A removed approximately one half of the original timber from the Category B parcel over a fifteen year period following effective date. Over that period, Nisga'a Village A claimed total depletion of $75,000, in respect of the removed timber, when computing its income for purposes of calculating Nisga'a Nation own source revenue capacity under paragraph 7. As a result, the parcel's undepreciated capital cost to Nisga'a Village A currently stands at $125,000.
As per subparagraph 19(a)(iii), if Nisga'a Village A were to sell its parcel for $250,000, the Nisga'a Nation would be required to report $75,000 of income, for purposes of calculating Nisga'a Nation own source revenue capacity, computed as follows:
| Lesser of: | ||
| Proceeds, otherwise determined | $250,000 | |
| Original capital cost | $200,000 | $200,000 |
| Less: undepreciated capital cost | $125,000 | |
| Addition to income for purposes of calculating own source | ||
| revenue capacity ("recaptured depreciation") | $ 75,000 | |
Paragraph 20 sets out the manner in which Nisga'a Nation own source revenue capacity is to be applied in fiscal financing agreements.
The net transfers by British Columbia and Canada, referred to in paragraph 20, are defined, respectively, in paragraphs 51 and 52 of the fiscal financing agreement.
Paragraph 51 of the fiscal financing agreement defines the net transfer by British Columbia for a fiscal year to be the annual funding amount specified in Schedule A of that agreement. That amount is not directly affected by Nisga'a Nation own source revenue capacity.
In contrast, Canada's net transfer will be affected by Nisga'a Nation own source revenue capacity, as outlined in paragraph 52 of the fiscal financing agreement and paragraph 20 of the OSR Agreement. Under paragraph 52 of the fiscal financing agreement, the net transfer by Canada for a fiscal year will be the amount otherwise determined under the fiscal financing agreement:
Paragraph 20 of the OSR Agreement provides that the Parties, in determining the amount of the net transfers for a given year will adjust the amount otherwise determined for the year under the fiscal financing agreement, by decreasing the amount for some items, and increasing it for others. The net total adjustments can be a negative or a positive amount.
Paragraph 20 provides that the sum of the net transfers otherwise determined will be decreased by:
Example:
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net Transfer, otherwise determined | |||||
| Adjustment (a): | $30,000 | $30,900 | $31,827 | $32,782 | $33,765 |
| aggregate referred to in paragraph 5 for the second preceding year | $0 | $0 | $322 | $510 | $698 |
| specified percentage | 0.00% | 0.00% | 5.00% | 5.00% | 10.00% |
| estimated Nisga'a Nation OSRC amount | $0 | $0 | ($16) | ($26) | ($70) |
| Adjustment (b) | |||||
| Nisga'a Nation own source revenue capacity for the second preceding year | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ($35) |
| estimated Nisga'a Nation OSRC amount for the second preceding year | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $16 |
| net adjustment (b) | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ($19) |
| Adjustment (d) | |||||
| estimated Nisga'a Nation OSRC amount for the second preceding year | |||||
| Nisga'a Nation own source revenue capacity for the second preceding year | |||||
| net adjustment | |||||
| Net transfer | $30,000 | $30,900 | $31,811 | $32,756 | $33,677 |
| Amount reported in Nisga'a Nation OSRC Annual Report | |||||
| aggregate referred to in paragraph 5 | $322 | $10 | $698 | $887 | $1,075 |
| specified percentage | 0.00% | 0.00% | 5.00% | 0.00% | 10.00% |
| Nisga'a Nation own source revenue capacity | $0 | $0 | $35 | $44 | $108 |
Example (Cont'd):
| Year 6 | Year 7 | Year 8 | Year 9 | Year 10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net Transfer, otherwise determined | |||||
| Adjustment (a): | $33,765 | $34,778 | $35,822 | $36,896 | $38,003 |
| aggregate referred to in paragraph 5 for the second preceding year | $887 | $1,075 | $229 | $0 | $1643 |
| specified percentage | 15.00% | 20.00% | 30.00% | 40.00% | 55.00% |
| estimated Nisga'a Nation OSRC amount | ($133) | ($215) | ($69) | $0 | ($904) |
| Adjustment (b) | |||||
| Nisga'a Nation own source revenue capacity for the second preceding year | ($44) | ($108) | ($493) | ||
| estimated Nisga'a Nation OSRC amount for the second preceding year | $26 | $70 | $69 | ||
| net adjustment (b) | ($19) | ($38) | $0 | $0 | ($424) |
| Adjustment (d) | |||||
| estimated Nisga'a Nation OSRC amount for the second preceding year | $133 | $215 | |||
| Nisga'a Nation own source revenue capacity for the second preceding year | ($34) | $0 | |||
| net adjustment | $99 | $215 | |||
| Net transfer | $33,613 | $34,525 | $35,852 | $37,111 | $36,675 |
| Amount reported in Nisga'a Nation OSRC Annual Report | |||||
| aggregate referred to in paragraph 5 | $229 | $0 | $1643 | $1832 | $2022 |
| specified percentage | 15.00% | 20.00% | 30.00% | 40.00% | 55.00% |
| Nisga'a Nation own source revenue capacity | $34 | $0 | $4935 | $733 | $1,112 |
Paragraph 24 provides that the Nisga'a Nation OSRC annual report will include an analysis which compares:
This analysis is to be prepared for purposes of providing information for negotiation of the next own source revenue agreement.
For this purpose, the calculation of consolidated net accounting income will be subject to the provisions of subparagraphs 16(d), 16(e) and paragraph 18 of the Fiscal Relations Chapter and paragraphs 4, 9 and 10 [Note 16] and subparagraphs 19(a), (g), (h) and (i) of this agreement.
Paragraph 25 provides any of the Parties the right to object within the prescribed time limit to any amount reported in a Nisga'a Nation OSRC annual report for a fiscal year. After notice is given under paragraph 27, the objection will be resolved in accordance with process described in paragraphs 28 and 29.
For greater certainty, this provision does not limit a Party from lodging a subsequent objection to an amount determined in conjunction with, or arising from, the resolution of an objection referred to in paragraph 25, nor does the resolution of an objection in respect of one amount included in a Nisga'a Nation OSRC annual report prevent a Party from raising a subsequent objection in relation to another amount included that report, provided notice of the subsequent objection is given within the time limit described in paragraph 25. For greater certainty, this provision does not limit a Party from lodging a subsequent objection to an amount determined in conjunction with, or arising from, the resolution of an objection referred to in paragraph 25, nor does the resolution of an objection in respect of one amount included in a Nisga'a Nation OSRC annual report prevent a Party from raising a subsequent objection in relation to another amount included that report, provided notice of the subsequent objection is given within the time limit described in paragraph 25.
See commentary under "Paragraph 25" above.