First Nations in New Brunswick consider revenue agreements crucial in this provincial election.
Tax agreements that date back to 1994 were in place to fund operations in Indigenous communities until last year, when Premier Higgs terminated those agreements in a phone call during a meeting with chiefs.
Since then, one-third of all First Nations have signed emergency funding agreements with the current provincial government to tackle urgent issues, including housing, economic development and wellness.
Those First Nations include Eel Ground First Nation, Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), Welamukotuk (Oromocto First Nation), Amlamgog (Fort Folly First Nation), and Lno Minigog (Indian Island First Nation). They have partnered with the province to direct funds to economic, social, and cultural matters.
New deals expected from parties
Despite calling them “an unsustainable drain on the tax base,” the Progressive Conservative Party stated in the questionnaire that they are continuously working on completing development agreements explicitly focused on Mi’kmaw and Wolastoqey priorities, which cover housing, infrastructure, and economic development.
Other options include proposals by the Green and New Democratic parties who are looking into reviving the old tax agreements in different ways.
David Coon, leader of the Green Party, said they would “negotiate new types of agreements built on the foundation of previous ones” and wait for the new funding deals to expire. “We’ve seen the positive impacts – when (we) visited the First Nations communities – resulting (from) those tax agreements.”
Similarly, the head of the NDP, Alex White, aims to restore the former agreements and to update those that have been already signed with the province in collaboration with First Nations.
Julian Moulton, the Liberal candidate for Carleton-Victoria and a current councillor for Neqotkuk (Tobique), said that the provincial Liberal Party plans to renegotiate the agreements in the best interest of all parties. While the length of these was not specified, he said new agreements would be long-term.
“We need to have conversations with the chiefs and see what’s working and what’s not working and how we can make it fit for everybody,” Moulton said in an interview with Ku’ku’kwes News.
Revenue streams needed, First Nations say
As some parties pledged alternatives to funding agreements, First Nations restated their need for the addition of a durable revenue-sharing agreement.
In response to the answers in the questionnaire sent to political parties, Wolastoqey Nation in New Brunswick (WNNB), an organization representing the six Wolastoqey bands in the province, pointed out that the province lacks a “clear and robust” revenue-sharing agreement that complies with the principle of Indigenous self-determination.
Moulton said that many First Nations communities rely on the benefits of the cancelled accords, such as Neqotkuk (Tobique), which signed a new development agreement with the province in June last year.
An announcement earlier this year by St. Mary’s Supermarket, a community grocery complex operated by members of Sitansisk (St. Mary’s First Nation), referred to the withdrawal of the Wolastoqey Tax Revenue Sharing Agreement as one of the reasons they chose to close their business.
“This is a regressive and paternalistic approach to Indigenous, nation-to-nation relationships,” Wolastoqey chiefs said in a joint WNNB statement, criticizing the repeal of agreements with the province. “We can do better than this.”
This is part two of Ku’ku’kwes News’ coverage of the provincial elections in New Brunswick.
