SoVote

Decentralized Democracy

Bob Zimmer

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
May 1, 2023
Context: Subject Matter of Bill C-45, An Act to amend the First Nations Fiscal Management Act (INAN) - May/1/23
Mr. Bob Zimmer (Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, CPC)
  • 04:41:45 p.m.
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Thank you, Madam Chair. Thanks to our witnesses. I have a very specific question for you, Chief and Councillor Claxton. I'm looking at the portfolio of what you currently do as a councillor, not to mention what you've done in the past. It's culture, language, elders, finance, personnel, health, education and social development, fisheries, maintenance and public works, the First Nations Finance Authority and the list goes on down to the RCMP. The reason I bring that up for the audience who might be watching today is that I want to bring this into the context of somebody who's on the ground and who has seen what hasn't worked in the past and what needs to be done to make it better. I have many first nations in my riding up in Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, and I can attest that we have gone before to different ministers of first nations, only to ask and get very little in terms of a response to specific questions. It's very difficult. Seeing how unresponsive it can be sometimes, just from your own perspective, you've talked about what potential changes this is going to have to infrastructure and first nation communities. As a person who's on the ground, what's going to be different going forward if these amendments pass?
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Context: Subject Matter of Bill C-45, An Act to amend the First Nations Fiscal Management Act (INAN) - May/1/23
Mr. Bob Zimmer
  • 04:45:25 p.m.
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  • Read Aloud
What I see as the difference is that it puts you in a position to be in the driver's seat. You're able to decide what infrastructure you want to do. You can go to the community, and it can decide what.... I think someone on the panel mentioned that the community decides what infrastructure you want to build in your own communities as opposed to the previous, where I'd say it's hat in hand, asking if the minister would be so nice as to do what you wish the minister to do. It's life-changing for first nations communities. I applaud Manny and Harold and many of you who are sitting here today for your tireless work on this. Manny, you mentioned in 2003.... I was here in 2011, hearing Harold and the pitch saying how good this is going to be for first nations communities. I applaud you that you've gotten it this far. It just needs to get a little further. Jason, since I have the chance to ask you a question.... We talked about this in previous committees, about economic reconciliation. We've heard it a few times today. I know, from speaking to Harold and others, how important it is to first nations communities. It's a very key pillar to reconciliation. Can you speak to that for the next couple of minutes, about how important economic reconciliation is to first nations communities?
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