Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Rebecca Alty promised Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. that Ottawa will respect the Nunavut Agreement despite fears that Bill C-39, the Building Canada Strong Act, could override Indigenous consultation.
Indigenous organizations across Canada have rejected the proposed law, which would accelerate some infrastructure projects via a one-year approval process.
Alty addressed NTI’s annual general meeting in Kugluktuk remotely from her parliamentary office in Ottawa on Oct. 21.
“Nothing in the legislation changes Inuit rights or modern treaties,” the minister said. “Because for Bill C-39, the situation in Canada’s North is unique. In the Yukon, Nunavut and much of the Northwest Territories, project reviews are already carried out through modern treaty and co-management systems that were designed with Indigenous partners and reflect constitutionally protected agreements.”
Federal government obligations to Inuit under the Nunavut Agreement, including increasing Inuit employment and contracting Inuit-owned businesses, would remain unchanged under the Building Canada Strong Act, according to Alty.
Bill C-39 provides ministerial power to deem certain infrastructure projects “in the national interest” to speed up environmental reviews and consultation. However, the proposed legislation still needs to pass third reading in the House of Commons and three votes in the Senate.
Four First Nations organizations argue the proposed law would sideline consultations with Indigenous peoples.
Alty highlighted the Iqaluit Nukkiksautiit Hydro Project and Grays Bay Road and Port as Inuit-owned and federally-funded examples of the co-management process under the Nunavut Agreement, though neither project has been approved.
NTI President Gloria Uluqsi asked Alty if the federal government’s budget, due on Nov. 5, would include funding for Inuit.
The minister said she was unable to give a preview, but to “stay tuned.”
Grocery subsidy program Nutrition North is the subject of significant dissatisfaction in Nunavut and it should be addressed, Solomon Allurut, Qikiqtani Inuit Association executive board member, told the minister.
“There has been a lot of complaints about Nutrition North. What do you know about Nutrition North? Have there been any changes, and what can you report to us on whether it’ll be part of the Canadian government’s budget?” Allurut asked Alty.
Northern and Arctic Affairs Minister Rebecca Chartrand is working on Nutrition North reform and is considering the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami report on poverty reduction, Alty replied.
An external review of Nutrition North called for universal basic income, as roughly half of Nunavummiut suffer from food insecurity despite the grocery subsidy program.
Inuit have the lowest life expectancy in Canada, living an average of 71 years, and tax credits should be offered for hunting supplies, argued Tommy Akavak, QIA executive board member.
“That’s an excellent recommendation, and I’ve jotted it down in my book,” said Alty. “So I will raise it with not only my colleague, Minister Chartrand, because that could potentially be a good Nutrition North recommendation, but I’ll also raise it with my colleagues, the secretary of state for the CRA, Wayne Long, as well as the Minister of Finance [Francois-Philippe] Champagne.”
Nutrition North currently has a harvester support grant aimed at increasing access to country foods, which has given $29.6 million to NTI since 2022.
Speaking on upcoming devolution of powers from the federal government to the Government of Nunavut, Alty said a bill would be tabled in the House of Commons this fall.
The GN will assume responsibilities over its lands and waters in April 2027 through devolution.
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William Koblensky Varela, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Nunavut News.