Assembly tackles legislative debates

The latest session of the Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador (AFNQL) saw the 30 representatives broach a wide variety of topics over two days, June 18-19, including three controversial bills currently being debated or recently passed.

They are Quebec’s Bill 69, passed in early June, which has the goal of doubling Hydro Quebec’s energy production by 2035 by giving the crown corporation free reign in how it does so; Bill 97,  still in committee, which will allow for additional zoning for the forest industry to do resource exploitation; and the federal “nation-building” Bill C-5, passed last Friday and heavily criticized by First Nations leadership across the country.

Quebec’s minister of Indigenous affairs Ian Lafrenière and newly-elected federal minister of Indigenous Services Mandy Gull-Masty were in attendance at points in the session to field concerns.

Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK) chief Jeffrey Diabo, who was in attendance at the session, said that Bill 97 and Bill C-5 in particular were the bulk of much of the conversation.

“A lot of the communities that attended the AFNQL are more remote, so they do a lot of cultural activities in the bush, and they’re being affected by this bill,” said Diabo of Bill 97.

“Quebec is giving rights to forest companies, and it’s creating a lot of difficulties, because now it’s putting the First Nation communities at odds with the forest companies.”

He said that Kahnawake was affected by it, too, because of logging permits given close to Tioweró:ton.

“Some of the issues we were raising were about contamination, environmental issues, and things of that nature,” said Diabo.

He said that some nations are working with the ministry on Bill 97, but the signing of a non-disclosure agreement has aggravated concerns.

The AFNQL will be sponsoring a trip to Geneva from July 14-18 to raise the issue to the United Nations, a trip MCK chiefs Tonya Perron and Melanie Morrison will be attending.

Only present for an hour or so, Lafrenière fielded the concerns and said to the assembly that he would pass them on.

Gull-Masty, meanwhile, spent a lot more time at the assembly, going over her vision of how Bill C-5 could be potentially beneficial to First Nations communities.

“This whole idea of Canada and nation building, she wants to see it not only at the federal or provincial level, but also the First Nation level,” said Diabo.

He said that Gull-Masty also spoke of the tasks ahead for the ministry, specifically Jordan’s Principle, as well as the modernization of the inner working of Indigenous Services Canada, although she did not offer specifics on improvements.

Instead, she welcomed First Nations communities to offer their thoughts on solutions, instead of having Canada do so.

“She feels that once they propose solutions, in all likelihood, it will be agreed to, because it’s from the First Nation perspective, which a lot of the bureaucrats don’t have,” said Diabo.

He said that the chiefs present were amenable to what she had to offer.

“She’s a woman, she’s an Indigenous person, so a lot of the chief see it more in a favourable light because of who she is,” said Diabo.

Diabo had the opportunity to formally invite Gull-Masty to the community, an offer she accepted, although no firm date has been set for the visit.

“Minister Gull-Masty has plans to visit Kahnawake to meet with the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake and is looking forward to meeting with the council to have a productive dialogue. Minister Gull-Masty appreciates the invitation to last’s week’s AFNQL and looks forward to strong partnership,” said the minister’s spokesperson Livi McElrea.

On night one of the assembly, there was a celebration of the career of Ghislain Picard, the long time AFNQL regional chief who retired this year. Diabo said the MCK gifted him a basket and golf clubs for his retirement.

Neither AFNQL regional chief Francis Verreault-Paul nor Lafrenière could be reached for comment prior to The Eastern Door’s publishing deadline.

[email protected]