Coon Come questions new mining law

The Quebec National Assembly’s vote to adopt Bill 70 earlier this month was met with concern buy several Aboriginal leaders, including Cree Grand Chief Matthew Coon Come. The PQ government bill, which amends several aspects of the province’s Mining Act, passed with the support of the opposition Liberals and Coalition Avenir Québec. Only the two members of Québec Solidaire opposed the bill.

In a written report, Coon Come acknowledged the bill’s positive elements, praising its recognition of the need to consult Aboriginal communities and to take account of their rights and interests in reconciling mining activities with other possible uses of the territory.

However, Coon Come criticized the bill’s requirement that any payments made by mining companies yo Native communities be reported and publicized.

“Although the data contained in community agreements, such as Impact Benefit Agreements, would not be published, the amount of ‘overall contributions’ paid by a mining company, on a mine-by-mine basis, would be disclosed to the Minister and made public,” Coon Come wrote, adding that the release of such sensitive financial information would have a negative impact on the Cree in future negotiations with mining companies and in governance negotiations with Canada.

“The disclosure of payments received by the Cree under mining IBAs could provide Canada with valuable information in its attempts to impose OSR (Own Source Revenue) and to reduce its own payments under the JBNQA and other programs. This could act as a disincentive for the Cree to enter into agreements with mining companies,” Coon Come observed.

Despite his issues with the bill, the Grand Chief stated that he looks forward to strengthening the Cree Nation’s relationship with Quebec. He asked the Quebec government to oppose any future federal attempts to cut payments to Cree organizations as a result of the public-disclosure rules of the new law.