First Nations welcome mining but it needs to be fair, says Ontario regional chief – by Frank Giorno (Timmins Today – March 8, 2017)

https://www.timminstoday.com/

“Contrary to popular belief, Canada’s First Nations welcome mining
developments,” emphasized Day. And want to be able to share in the
benefits – including revenue sharing a concept, that was advocated
in the Federal Royal Commission into Aboriginal People and also the
Provincial Ipperwash Commission.”

Mining is important for improving the wellbeing of First Nations, but revenues from mining must be shared more equitably, said Chiefs of Ontario Regional Chief Isadore Day, at the opening ceremony for the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada Convention in Toronto.

“I want to acknowledge that the work of PDAC has really moved forward the agenda of indigenous people working in mining,” said Day. Day said Ontario and Canada must implement a nation-to-nation relationship and revenue sharing that have been recommended by the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples and the Ipperwash Inquiry in 2007 neither government has so far implemented those recommendations.

“Contrary to popular belief, Canada’s First Nations welcome mining developments,” emphasized Day. And want to be able to share in the benefits – including revenue sharing a concept, that was advocated in the Federal Royal Commission into Aboriginal People and also the Provincial Ipperwash Commission.”

“These important recommendations about moving forward have not been fully implement, and I ask that you implement them now,” Day said with federal Minister of Natural Resources Jim Carr in the audience.

Still, Day pointed out, First Nations are not benefiting equitably from Canada’s mining policy. “Minister Jim Carr spoke about the importance of the tax credit for flow through capital in encouraging mining exploration,“ said Day. “The shifting of that 15 percent tax credit is an important tool for the mining industry.”

Day said, he supports and understands the importance of the 15 percent tax credit, that benefit however, does not extend to First Nations because through treaties, First Nations do not pay taxes in the conventional sense.

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