Nova Scotia chiefs say province needs to improve consultation on natural resources
Chief Tamara Young, of Pictou Landing First Nation, told a legislature committee today that the province's duty to consult with the Mi'kmaq needs to be more than an afterthought or a 'box to be checked.'
Patrick Butler, the senior Mi'kmaq energy and mines adviser, confirmed during the hearing that chiefs were not consulted before legislation that was passed in March lifted a ban on uranium and a moratorium on fracking for natural gas.
Butler says they also weren't consulted when the Natural Resources Department said it was issuing a request for proposals for uranium exploration at three sites in the province earlier this month.
He described the relationship with the department as 'rocky and inconsistent' and says it's always better when the Mi'kmaq are informed as early as possible when it comes to natural resources development.
The department's deputy minister, Karen Gatien, says the government is committed to consultations, but she agrees that it should be done earlier where possible.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 27, 2025.
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Hamilton Spectator
a day ago
- Hamilton Spectator
‘Time for action is now'; Mi'kmaq chiefs want to restart negotiations about on-reserve poverty
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The chiefs called for Indigenous rights, self-determination and upholding laws and agreements already in place to be honoured as a way of eliminating inequality and insufficiency in social assistance rates between Mi'kmaq living on or off reserves. A single person who is not a homeowner living on-reserve receives $185.32 bi-weekly in assistance, which amounts to less than $14 per day. Someone living off-reserve receives $644 monthly. Neither amount is sufficient, the leaders agreed, but right now they are asking for equality. Eskasoni Chief Leroy Denny read a statement on behalf of Mi'kmaq social assistance recipients and their families in Nova Scotia. 'Since 2015, we have worked closely with Canada on preparations for our communities to resume the jurisdiction and control of our on-reserve social assistance program,' he said. 'In one month, it will be one year since Canada promised they were committed to addressing adequate resourcing at the Indigenous Service Canada On–Reserve Income Assistance Program.' PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING Denny said there have been negotiations on and off, as well as costly court orders for over a decade. In the meantime, people are suffering and living far below the poverty line. He said it affects people's mental health and well-being. 'Indigenous Services Canada delegates management responsibility to Mi'kmaq band councils in Nova Scotia to deliver its National On-Reserve Income Assistance Program. That federal program is required to be comparable with the Nova Scotia Income Assistance Program, but is not,' said Denny. He said the Mi'kmaq, Canada and Nova Scotia had been negotiating a self-governance agreement for social assistance on reserves since November 2021, but Canada halted negotiations last November after the Mi'kmaq submitted a plan based on provincial comparability. 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'Mi'kmaq leaders are asking for basic human and legal rights – the ability to access poverty-reducing income supports comparable to what other Canadians can access off-reserve.' 'Time for talk is over,' he said. 'Time for action is now. That's why I'm here.' Chief John Leonard Bernard of We'koqma'q said they are trying to end an intergenerational formula from the past that has been forced upon Indigenous people for many years. 'We can do this ourselves,' Bernard said. 'Our chiefs and councils have been governing in our own ways and with our own government structures that we created and feel are right for our own people.' 'We want to negotiate in good faith. We want to negotiate as partners. Our goal is to eliminate poverty.' FAIRNESS SOUGHT Chief Wilbert Marshall of Potlotek (Chapel Island) First Nation was succinct in his remarks. He lamented the fact that court orders and continual negotiations have a financial cost. 'We know our stuff,' Marshall said. 'We weren't born yesterday. Just listen. We just want you to be fair, that's all.' James Michael, the co-lead negotiator for the Mi'kmaq bands said: 'The rule of law is a guiding principle Canadians expect all governments to respect and adhere to. Unfortunately, Canada has not been consistent following the rule of law in matters of poverty reduction for Mi'kmaq individuals and families living on reserve in Nova Scotia.' Michael said Canada is still not in compliance with its own 1964 Treasury Board policy to align assistance rates between on- and off-reserve clients. 'On behalf of our social assistance clients and their families, we're calling on Prime Minister Carnie to re-start formal negotiations with our bands to complete the Mi'kmaq/Canada financial relationship in the sectoral self-government agreement,' said Denny. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hamilton Spectator
2 days ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Ottawa says it wants to improve income assistance program on First Nation reserves
The federal government says it is committed to working with Mi'kmaq First Nations in Nova Scotia to improve the income assistance program. The comments are in response to criticism that there is a gap of more than $25 million a year between what First Nations people on reserve receive from Ottawa and what they would get from Nova Scotia if they lived off reserve. Ta'n Etli-tpi'tmk, a group that represents 12 of 13 Mi'kmaq First Nations in Nova Scotia, says some people living on reserve who rely on income assistance from Ottawa are being kept in deep poverty. A spokesperson for Indigenous Services Canada and for Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada says Ottawa is working to make its income assistance program 'more responsive' to people in need. Anispiragas Piragasanathar says the government has been in talks with Maritime First Nations and Ta'n Etli-tpi'tmk since 2016 on improving income assistance for people on reserve. The spokesperson says Ottawa and the Indigenous groups are trying to come up with a 'culturally responsive' program, but didn't provide details. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 30, 2025. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hamilton Spectator
3 days ago
- Hamilton Spectator
N.S. Mi'kmaq chiefs call on Ottawa to address income assistance disparity on reserves
Mi'kmaq leaders from Nova Scotia are calling on Ottawa to urgently address the income assistance disparity they say is keeping some families on reserve in deep poverty. Ta'n Etli-tpi'tmk, which represents 12 of the 13 Mi'kmaq First Nations in Nova Scotia, says Canada must raise on-reserve income assistance rates to provincial levels. The group says there is a gap of more than $25 million a year between what First Nations people on reserve receive from Ottawa and what they would receive from Nova Scotia if they lived off reserve. Sen. Paul Prosper, who is a Mi'kmaq lawyer from Nova Scotia, says First Nations in the province are asking for basic human and legal rights, and poverty-reducing support that's comparable to what others access off reserve. James Michael, a lead negotiator with Ta'n Etli-tpi'tmk, says the disparity in income assistance rates is keeping some people on reserve in 'deep poverty,' making it impossible for some to access healthy food. A representative from Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada was not immediately available for comment. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 29, 2025. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
