WOLASTOQEY TERRITORY | FREDERICTON, NB – The six chiefs of the Wolastoqey Nation and the provincial government have signed revenue-sharing agreements on the Wolastoqey Homeland designed to benefit all New Brunswickers and honour the strength of First Nations communities.
Premier Susan Holt said New Brunswick is setting new benchmarks for partnership, economic collaboration and reconciliation as a result of respectful negotiations based on a government-to-government model.
“We are proud to have collaborated with chiefs on these agreements, which benefit Wolastoqey communities and grow shared prosperity for all New Brunswickers,” said Holt. “Our province flourishes when we work together. We are committed to building relationships between First Nations and our government, and we hope these agreements become an example for all provinces in Canada in our national efforts toward reconciliation, equity and right relations.”
The agreements allow for the sharing of tax revenue from tobacco, gas and motive fuel, and the provincial portion of harmonized sales tax generated by businesses within First Nations reserve lands based on a sliding scale:
Tax revenue below $10 million: 95 per cent for communities and five per cent for the provincial government. Tax revenue of $10 million or higher, but below $16 million: 70 per cent for communities and 30 per cent for the provincial government. Tax revenue above $16 million: 50 per cent each for communities and the provincial government.
This approach is meant to ensure that tax revenues stay in the local community to support priorities such as housing, education, health care and economic development. The agreements empower First Nation communities with greater autonomy to address local needs while fostering stronger relationships with the provincial government.
Indigenous Affairs Minister Keith Chiasson said negotiating these agreements took courage, humility, wisdom, strength and a willingness to have hard conversations on both sides.
“I am grateful to every chief who trusted us to sit at the negotiating table and figure out a way forward,” said Chiasson. “Woliwon for demonstrating true partnership in action and in word. The legacy of these agreements will be in the growth, collaboration and collective prosperity of First Nations communities and the province of New Brunswick.”
Matawaskiyak (Madawaska First Nation) Chief Patricia Bernard said First Nations communities are strong, resourceful and resilient. “Since the first agreements signed between the province of New Brunswick and First Nations in the 1990s, revenue sharing has allowed us to have autonomous funding for essential services. We have felt the impact of the absence of this revenue over the past four years. This is good news for our communities and all New Brunswickers.”
Tim Paul, Chief of Woodstock First Nation continued, “our Elders talk about making decisions
in the interests of the generations that came before and those that will follow us in the future. Our communities will benefit economically from these agreements with crucial revenue to better support necessities like housing and education for future generations. They also move away from a paternalistic, top-down relationship. Government-to-government respect is founded in dignity and equity, and it is the way forward.”
“We are all in this together. Signing these agreements with the province of New Brunswick marks an important milestone. Not just in the shared revenue and prosperity between our communities and the province, but in the rebuilding of a relationship based on mutual respect.,” said Allan Polchies, Chief of Sitansisk.
Ross Perley, Chief of Neqotkuk added: “This is a great example of what Nation-to-Nation, government-to-government negotiations can achieve. Respect and collaboration were at the heart of all discussions. Minister Chiasson and Premier Holt were willing to listen and work with us to find solutions for our communities. By working together as partners we produced an agreement that will benefit our communities and the New Brunswick economy.”
“We are dedicated to building our communities and working in the best interest of our community members and neighbours,” said Chief Gabriel Atwin of Bilijk. “To do this, it is crucial for First Nations communities to have own-source revenue that can contribute to infrastructure, health care, and other community services.”
“As the newly elected Chief of Welamukotuk, coming into this relationship and agreement is a
gift. I am thankful to my colleagues and the other Chiefs of our Wolastoqey communities for leading this work for all of us. I look forward to building on the respectful, dynamic relationship established through this process,” said Scott Paul.
The six Wolastoqey communities of Sitansisk (Saint Mary’s), Neqotkuk (Tobique), Bilijk
(Kingsclear), Matawaskiyak (Madawaska), Welamukotuk (Oromocto) and Wotstak (Woodstock) signed agreements today on behalf of Wolastoq communities.
Download the full news release here.