Speaking Notes for Hon. Sue Barnes
Parliamentary Secretary
to the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
at the
Indian Resource Council
Annual General Meeting


September 30, 2004

Check against delivery

Thank you, Chief Wesley, Roy Fox, Elders and guests. Good morning/afternoon.

I'd like to say thank you to the Indian Resource Council for the opportunity to speak here today on the First Nations Oil and Gas and Moneys initiative. Some of the First Nations you represent have worked very hard over the last ten years to take control of their oil and gas resources.

The Government of Canada recognizes that this initiative was driven by First Nations' desire to invest in their communities and create a better future for generations to come.

As a government, we are committed to doing our part to ensure First Nations can access the tools they need to drive their economies efficiently. This approach was made clear by the Prime Minister in the 2004 Speech From the Throne, the Budget and the Canada-Aboriginal Peoples Roundtable, which was held in April.

The federal government is listening to your concerns and we're making them ours. As the Prime Minister has said, we want make sure that all Canadians enjoy the same opportunities and quality of life, and we don't want to leave anyone behind.

You are the ones who know what your communities need. Clearly, any attempt to improve life in communities has to start with you, because you know what's going to work.

In the case of White Bear, Blood Tribe and Siksika First Nations, what could be more critical to their economy than having the means to make their own laws surrounding the control of their own oil and gas and the revenues they generate?

That's why, when these three First Nations said they sought control over the oil and gas reserves on their land, we listened. As you know, it's been ten years since these and other First Nations expressed an interest in managing those resources for themselves and controlling the associated revenues.

In that time, the Government of Canada — through Indian Oil and Gas Canada and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada — has worked closely with the pilot First Nations, along with representatives from the Indian Resource Council, to reach our common goal.

This began with information sharing and the introduction of programs to strengthen the skills of community members, who were preparing themselves to assume greater control of their own economic future.

Post-secondary and on-the-job training were made available to ensure the communities would be full and equal partners in the next step along this journey.

Two years ago, that journey entered a new phase.

Jointly, Canada, the three First Nations and IRC built on the successes of the pilot projects in a way that would provide full control over these resources to these bands, and extend the same opportunities to other First Nations who wanted to opt-in.

The Government of Canada followed the First Nations' lead, and developed this proposed First Nation Oil and Gas and Moneys initiative in partnership with First Nations at the table.

Under this proposed new phase, any First Nation who chooses to participate will have the power to manage their oil and gas resources in the way that benefits their people most.

They will be able to ensure that the resulting economic activity respects the environment and includes their people as owners, employees and partners.

If their communities vote to opt in, they will no longer have to ask anyone's permission to issue contracts or enter into business deals.

If, on the other hand, a community chooses not to participate, IOGC will still be there to assist with the management and administration of oil and gas resources where needed.

We're doing what we can to work ourselves out of a job, but only where you want us to.

This work we've accomplished together is an example of the government's commitment to empowering First Nations with the right tools to create wealth in your communities. Revenues from your resources will go straight to you, the people who know where it's needed most.

Under this proposed initiative, First Nations will have the flexibility to make choices about how to invest their money — it will go where you want it to go. You can use it to create jobs and increase economic activity, in turn generating funds that can be used for the well-being of everyone in your communities.

Like all journeys, this one started with a single step. That step was when a group of First Nations came to us and said, "We want to make life better for our people, and here's how we want to do it."

First Nations came up with the idea. First Nations put ten years of work into it, and participated in every aspect of this Oil and Gas initiative. First Nations made it happen.

For the countless hours the three First Nations and IRC put into this process over the past decade, thank you and congratulations. You have done an enormous amount to contribute to a brighter future for your communities and members, while helping to pave the way for other First Nations with similar aspirations.

White Bear, Blood Tribe, Siksika and the IRC have led the way, and the Government of Canada is proud to have walked by your side.

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