Latest news with #TrevorMercredi
CBC
27-06-2025
- Business
- CBC
Treaty 8 First Nations call for 2% resource revenues from projects on their land
Treaty 8 First Nations chiefs in Alberta are calling for a two-per-cent share of royalties from projects that develop resources from their land. The chiefs met with Premier Danielle Smith in Calgary on Thursday to raise various concerns, including revenue sharing. Trevor Mercredi, grand Chief of the Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta, said the meeting was urgently needed due to speed with which legislation is moving that could lead to major projects affecting Treaty 8 communities. "There has to be some sort of a relationship developed between Alberta and the nations, so we can move forward with some of these projects in a good way for our people," said Mercredi. "We're not looking for a handout, we're not looking for the province to come take care of our people, we don't need the province to take care of our people. We need our own people to serve and take care of our people" The meeting came on the same day that Bill C-5, Prime Minister Mark Carney's 'nation-building' projects bill, was passed by the Senate unamended. The legislation allows the prime minister's cabinet to streamline approvals for some projects that have the potential to boost the Canadian economy. But the bill has received criticism from some, including Mercredi, for the possibility it could lead to insufficient consultation with Indigenous peoples. Mercredi said resource revenue sharing is how his community can better support itself through funding education and health services, especially due to how profitable drawing resources from within Treaty 8 land, in northern Alberta, has been for the province. "You hear Premier Smith and all of the others talk about the millions and billions and trillions coming out of Alberta. That's from our backyards," Mercredi said. "Every day, we have industry and the province coming into our nations with hat in hand, looking for projects. It's not the other way around." Smith said the provincial government is looking for ways to ensure all First Nations in Alberta receive revenue from natural resources within the province. But instead of royalties, Smith said she believes this should be accomplished through equity. She pointed to the Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation as an example. It's set up to facilitate investment by Indigenous groups in natural resource, agriculture, telecommunication and transportation projects. "Those are the kinds of things that will deliver the long-term revenue streams that I think that they're looking for," Smith said. "We share the aspiration, we just have a different way of supporting it." A seat at the table on emergency management Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta rejected Alberta's attempts to "assert jurisdiction through legislation like the Sovereignty Act," according to a statement the organization issued Thursday. It called for a formal recognition of Treaty 8 governance as a government-to-Nation partner. Thursday's meeting also saw First Nations chiefs raise emergency management as an issue to the province, Mercredi said. He specifically pointed to a need to reinforce fire-suppression services, as Alberta contends with destructive wildfire seasons each summer. More broadly, Mercredi said the group wants more input with the province about responding to crises, to find long-term solutions to problems First Nations groups in Alberta face each year. "It's a new world we live in. Alberta's on fire, and Alberta's been on fire for the last five or six years," he said. "Our people are really traumatized, our people are being removed, our nations are always looking at the smoke, the lightning. It's very concerning and Alberta has to pick up on their services when it comes to fire." He added that he believes Smith was receptive to the issues his group raised Thursday, but for too long, First Nations groups haven't had a sufficient seat at the table in these negotiations. Smith will meet with the group again in August in Treaty 8 territory.
CTV News
24-06-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
City formalizes commitment to supporting Indigenous-led housing with Treaty 8
Grand Chief of Treaty 8 of Alberta Trevor Mercredi speaks at an emergency meeting of Treaty Chiefs on Alberta separation on May 6, 2025. (CTV News Calgary) Edmonton mayor Amarjeet Sohi and Treaty 8 Grand Chief Trevor Mercredi signed a letter of intent formalizing their shared commitment to supporting Indigenous-led affordable housing in the city. 'By signing this letter of intent with the City of Edmonton, we are advancing First Nations-led housing that reflects the culture, values, rights and aspirations of Treaty 8 First Nations,' said Mercredi in a statement Tuesday. The agreement was initiated by Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta and sets out shared objectives for advocacy, planning and support for culturally appropriate housing projects. The letter of intent outlines shared objectives including joint advocacy to other orders of government for funding and policy support; a coordinated approach to increase the supply of Indigenous-led housing in Edmonton; and recognition of the leadership of Treaty 8 in addressing the housing needs of their citizens. 'Edmonton is home to thousands of Treaty 8 members, and we recognize the housing crisis disproportionately affects Indigenous peoples,' said Krystin Flierl, director of the city's Indigenous Relations Office. 'Working together, we are calling on all levels of government to invest in Indigenous-led solutions—because reconciliation demands action.' Edmonton has the second-largest urban Indigenous population in Canada with nearly 88,000 Indigenous residents. More than half of those experiencing homelessness in the city identify as Indigenous. The city has implemented an Indigenous-led housing stream within the Affordable Housing Investment Program (AHIP) that offers grants of up to 40 per cent of capital costs for qualifying projects. Last year, $8.3 million in AHIP grants were approved by council for Indigenous-led housing developments. The city has also created an Indigenous Housing Liaison position to support Indigenous organizations and navigate government requirements.
CBC
22-06-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Bill C-5 passes in the House of Commons. Now what?
Chief political correspondent Rosemary Barton speaks with B.C. Premier David Eby about how his province is hoping to work with the federal government. Plus, Grand Chief Trevor Mercredi of the Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta talks about concerns the legislation would enable the government to bypass land protections in the name of economic development. And the Sunday Scrum discusses Liberals' unexpected partner in the minority government: the Conservatives.
CTV News
07-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Alberta separation ‘not economically' viable, economist says
First Nations leaders say Alberta would lose access to resources on treaty territory should the province choose to break ties with the federation – it's one of several factors one economist said makes the conversation around separation a 'nonstarter.' Smith has been facing questions around a possible separation referendum since the day after the federal election, when her party introduced legislation to make it easier for citizens to trigger one. While the premier has repeatedly said she does not support leaving Canada, she has promised to honour the wishes of Albertans and said she would include a separation question on next year's planned referendum ballot should citizens meet the criteria. Treaty Chiefs held an emergency meeting on Tuesday about the possibility, calling any talk of separation 'insanity' and threatening to curtail any development of resources on their land. 'Why should we allow you guys to continue to explore on our traditional territories if you want to leave?' Chief Allan Adam of Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation said. 'If separation does happen it won't be on the terms they would like to see, because the resources belong to us, to our people, that's a fundamental right we have,' added Grand Chief of Treaty 8 of Alberta Trevor Mercredi. Grand Chief of Treaty 8 of Alberta Grand Chief of Treaty 8 of Alberta Trevor Mercredi speaks at an emergency meeting of Treaty Chiefs on Alberta separation on May 6, 2025. (CTV News Calgary) Economist Moshe Lander said that would be just one of multiple economic blows to consider as part of the cost of leaving Canada. 'Anything that is currently done by the federal government now would need to be done by the province of Alberta,' Lander said. 'You need your own version of the RCMP, you'd have to have your own border control because you now have international borders.' He adds Alberta would also need to fund its own national parks, passports, currency and central bank – all of which could take billions of dollars and decades to establish. 'The idea that Alberta could go it alone is a complete nonstarter. It cannot be economically viable, it is not going to work,' he said. Nanos Research recently polled 432 Albertans on the best scenario for a strong provincial economy. Most, 64 per cent, believe the province needs to stay part of Canada. Twenty per cent said the economy would be stronger as an independent country and 10 per cent would like to join the U.S. Separation protest People gather in support of Alberta becoming a 51st state during a rally at the Legislature in Edmonton, on Saturday, May 3, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson (JASON FRANSON/THE CANADIAN PRESS) Smith has not answered questions about what separation could look like should Albertans vote to leave Canada, saying it remains a hypothetical situation and one her government does not support. 'That's up to constitutional scholars and lawyers to discuss,' Smith told CTV Power Play's Vassy Kapelos. 'There is no question, there is no petition campaign, there is no vote,' she added. 'All there is is me saying that I support a sovereign Alberta within the united Canada … If citizens garner enough signatures, it will be put on a ballot, but it's certainly not something we're doing as a government.' Smith said she hopes constructive conversations with the federal government can help alleviate some of the dissatisfaction some Albertans are feeling. 'Let's not demonize people. Let's acknowledge that the feelings that they have have a root, and the root is in the way Alberta has been treated for the last 10 years by the Liberals,' Smith said. 'That's genuine, and I'm being very direct with the Prime Minister and saying, 'If we can solve some of these things, I think that will bring the temperature down.' And that's what I'll continue to do.' A referendum vote is planned for 2026. It will include popular proposals discussed at town halls as part of the Alberta Next panel on how the province can protect itself from perceived threats from the Liberal government. With files from CTV News Edmonton's Chelan Skulski
