BC Regional Chief Terry Teegee is among 630 Indigenous representatives in attendance at three-day Assembly of First Nations conference in Winnipeg.
Many First Nations leaders are expressing opposition to the One Canadian Economy Act, which gives the federal government power to fast track major economic development projects that are deemed to be of national interest.
Teegee says the risk of not allowing First Nations to make decisions on major projects within Bill C-5 is still there.
“The system exists and that is why many First Nations are very concerned across this country and are concerned that if there is a project of national interest and what exactly does look like and what provisions are in there in the United Nations Deceleration Act.”
He adds many within the AFN will also bring forward resolutions for a near 360-billion dollar investment to shore up infrastructure gaps, which would include more affordable housing on-reserve.
Teegee added the infrastructure gap hits close to home in our province and represents decades of under-funding when it comes to roads as well as water and sewer services.
“There are a huge number of First Nations in British Columbia, 204 of them and I believe about 70-billion dollars is required to really deal with the infrastructure gap.”
Many first nations in the north are experiencing major growth and are caught in the cross fire of this affordable housing crisis.
“Further to that, one of the other issues is in the communities there is not enough land as what is required is in addition to reserves to expand and allow our housing facilities so that we can have affordable housing in First Nations communities for our youth growing families and our elders.”
The assembly ends today (Friday).
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