NationTalk: Toronto, ON – First Nations from across Canada are standing with the Chiefs of Ontario, passing a resolution calling on the Government of Canada to stop its discriminatory treatment of First Nations from this government’s carbon pricing regime.
The resolution was passed at the 45th Assembly of First Nation’s (AFN) Annual General Assembly and comes after the Chiefs of Ontario (COO) filed a court case against the federal government late last year for imposing what is considered a discriminatory tax on First Nations in the province. The carbon charge hits First Nations harder than others, and cannot incentivize them switching to greener energy options because for many, no such choices are available.
Conservative Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre spoke also at the assembly, expressing support for COO’s Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act (GGPPA) court case saying he will “axe the tax” if his party forms government following the next federal election.
However, that is not what the legal case is about.
First Nations in Ontario are looking for fair treatment that considers First Nations’ unique jurisdictional status in Canada, protects the environment, and recognizes the special circumstances they face as a result of centuries of colonialism.
The carbon tax is designed to change behaviour and push people to use greener sources of energy and transportation. But many green options—such as electric cars or heat pumps—are an impossibility for First Nations in Ontario due to the historic lack of infrastructure investment by Canada and the ongoing socio-economic burden of colonialism.
“We are looking for the government to come to the table and work with us to ensure their carbon tax does not harm First Nations in Ontario. We have been making this ask for years,” said Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict.
“It is an unfortunate situation that this must play out in the courts because our message has been clear and consistent. First Nations are already dealing with climate change, crumbling infrastructure, food insecurity and economic instability. The carbon tax’s implementation only serves to accelerate the crises First Nations are already facing.”
The court case demands Canada either figure out a way to make the carbon tax fair to First Nations or exempt First Nations from the tax. It also calls for equitable disbursement of the carbon tax rebate and alternative methods of disbursement other than through the Canada Revenue Agency.
The government says the tax is revenue neutral but First Nations people face substantial barriers to accessing the Climate Action Incentive Payments tax rebate that every other Canadian automatically receives by filing their taxes.
First Nations are the original Peoples of this land and consistently support initiatives aimed at protecting the animals, lands and waters they have lived on since time immemorial. Yet, they are among the most affected by climate change in Canada.
“We did not cause climate change. Like us, our lands, animals, waters and air have endured centuries of abuse due to industrialization and resource extraction,” said Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict. “We do not oppose the spirit of the carbon tax in principle. But the burden of addressing climate change has fallen on First Nations. This is a backwards, unjust solution to centuries of injustice.”
Canada has failed to honour its commitment to returning two per cent of the collected carbon tax to “Indigenous Nations” in Ontario.
Returns for First Nations in Ontario have been complicated by Canada’s insistence that money for rights-holding First Nations must be split with Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO)—a corporate organization founded in 1993. Chiefs of Ontario and some Métis governments contend the MNO is not a legitimate representative of Indigenous rights holders. Most people claiming Métis identity in Ontario do not face the same barriers to accessing personal returns or changing carbon-emitting behaviours as First Nations citizens.
“Our mandate from First Nations Leadership in Ontario is clear: push the Crown to honour its Treaty nation-to-nation relationships, respect our lands and stop it from pushing our Nations into carbon poverty,” said Regional Chief Benedict.
First Nations are standing up to this environmental racism and are calling on the ministers of Environment and Climate Change Canada, Infrastructure Canada, Finance, and other departments to provide adequate financial support for First Nations to minimize the impacts of carbon pricing, explore the implications of carbon pricing on their territories, as well as opportunities for their participation in resource-revenue sharing and the clean energy economy.
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The Chiefs of Ontario supports all First Nations in Ontario as they assert their sovereignty, jurisdiction and their chosen expression of nationhood. Follow Chiefs of Ontario on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram @ChiefsOfOntario.
Media Contacts:
Isak Vaillancourt
Communications Manager
Chiefs of Ontario
Telephone: 416-819-8184
Email: isak.vaillancourt@coo.org
Declan Keogh
Communications Officer
Chiefs of Ontario
Mobile: 416-522-4518
Email: declan.keogh@coo.org