The Shuswap Nation Tribal Council is calling for a more meaningful role in the future of its communities.
Beyond the recent federal budget, the SNTC says there is a need to reassign revenue jurisdiction to First Nations and formula-based block transfers.
“Many services will be more responsive and better reflect nation priorities and circumstances when they are funded and designed at the community level,” states a release.
“We need to ensure the new resources are spent on real programs and not managing funding proposal and reporting requirements. This is not a revolutionary concept. It is how provinces and local governments already operate. It is what other Canadians take for granted. All that is different is we wish to assume a different mix of responsibilities than other governments.”
The SNTC says the place to start is the development of resource tax jurisdiction over the Secwepemc territory and reassignment of responsibility for child welfare.
“This may sound revolutionary but it would simply formalize and make transparent what we are already doing,” states the release.
“Our revenue tax would replace what are currently unique negotiations on every project. Instead, we would have a straight forward and transparent tax regime. It would be good for business, it would be good for our government and ultimately, it would be good for everyone in our region. It would also show a real commitment to implementing our title.”
