Hon. Brent Cotter: Honourable senators, yesterday, Senators Arnot, Massicotte, Wells and I had the pleasure of hosting meetings with senior representatives of Cameco Corporation and the chiefs of three northern Saskatchewan First Nations. They were in Ottawa to discuss matters of importance with government representatives and shared some of their thoughts with us.

As many of you will know, Cameco Corporation, based in Saskatoon, is the largest uranium mining company in the world. Cameco’s leadership team, headed by CEO Tim Gitzel, is among one of the most progressive and capable in the mining industry and is committed to the communities with which it works. The First Nations leaders in attendance were Chief Coreen Sayazie of the Black Lake First Nation, Chief Bart Tsannie of the Hatchet Lake First Nation and Chief Kevin Mercredi of the Fond Du Lac First Nation, all Dene First Nations at the far northern reaches of Saskatchewan, virtually bordering on the Northwest Territories.

What we heard about and what I want to speak to briefly today are the incredibly wide-ranging partnerships that exist and have existed for decades between Cameco and northern Saskatchewan First Nations and their various business enterprises. These partnerships enable Cameco and the First Nations to jointly benefit from the mining of a critical natural resource, uranium, in northern Saskatchewan. Since 2004, these partnerships have generated over $4 billion flowing to First Nations businesses and communities in the North, as well as employment for thousands of northerners and education and training for countless Indigenous young people.

It is an example of the incredible potential for economic partnerships — in this case, in one of the many critical minerals abundant in northern Saskatchewan — to breathe life into the concepts of truth and reconciliation and to make concrete Canada’s commitment to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples — what Senator Arnot yesterday rightly described as an example of reconciliation before that word was fashionable.

Some of our visitors are residential school survivors. One chief told us that the past cannot be undone, but through initiatives like their partnerships with Cameco and others, they and their communities can move forward with dignity and autonomy to pursue their destinies and achieve the kind of prosperity that so many of us in this country take for granted. This is courageous and honourable. The initiatives they champion to build the economic and social fabrics of their lives and communities deserve our support as senators and Canadians. Cameco and the great Canadian companies that have shown the willingness and commitment — and sometimes courage — to work with our First Nations in pursuit of shared success deserve our admiration, appreciation and support. Thank you. Marsee.