Posted on 01/18/2024 8:14:20 PM PST by jerod
Prime Minister Trudeau signs agreement for largest land transfer in Canada's history
Nearly 25 years after Nunavut became a territory, it has signed a final agreement with the government of Canada to have the final say over a long list of decisions that were, until now, usually made in Ottawa.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Premier P.J. Akeeagok and Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. president Aluki Kotierk signed the agreement at a ceremony in Iqaluit this afternoon.
It's the largest land transfer in Canada's history, Trudeau said — two million square kilometres of land and water.
The 239-page document outlines how Canada will give control over Nunavut's land and resources to the government of Nunavut — a process known as devolution.
The agreement officially begins April 1, and the parties will have until April 2027 to get it all done.
"It's high time. It's a turning point for Nunavummiut," said Paul Quassa, a former Nunavut premier and land claims negotiator.
Speaking just before the signing, Trudeau called it a "historic" day.
"A lot of work has gone into making today possible," he said. "Leaders, negotiators, officials of many stripes have all worked hard for many years for the same goal: for Nunavummiut to have increased control for decisions on their land, waters and resources."
Nunavut first become a territory in 1999, and has slowly been negotiating with the federal government to have the final say over how many decisions are made. That's a process that both the Yukon and N.W.T. have undergone, as well.
One final area to be negotiated for Nunavut was land and water management, which covers resource development. That negotiation process began in 2008 and the territory signed an agreement-in-principle on devolution in 2019.
Quassa was part of the land claim negotiations that created Nunavut. The signing of devolution, he said, is something he's imagined for a long time.
"It's like honey, I guess — it's sweet," Quassa said. "This is something I've looked forward to since the day we started negotiating with the Nunavut government."
The devolution agreement also finalizes the terms for transferring administrative control of Nunavut's Crown lands and resources to the territorial government, and outlines the conditions of the post-transfer period.
As of the transfer date, government of Canada employees whose jobs become territorial responsibilities, and who work in Nunavut, will be offered jobs with the territorial government.
For its part, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. will be in charge of a post-devolution human resources strategy, to ensure Inuit are hired to fill roles within the Nunavut government.
Right now, the government of Canada makes all the final decisions for the development of minerals, oil and gas on Nunavut's public land.
Devolution will change this, giving Nunavut the final decision-making authority.
"We'll decide our own future," Premier P.J. Akeeagok said. "Before this, it was Ottawa who had the final decision over whether a project would advance."...
Somebody is going to make some serious money... The question is... After you become a millionaire... Do you really want to live in Nunavut?
I’m having none of it.
So will that mean mining...oil exploration...etc?
They likely have billions and maybe even trillions of dollars in natural resources... Difficult to get to, but it’s there for the taking and the owners will decide... My guess is that the owners want some money.
The British should re-invade
“Difficult to get to”
I like Western history and I’m constantly amazed how quickly people have gotten into difficult to access places to build railroads, bridges, mines, and lumbering operations. We took an Alaskan cruise in July and rode the “White Pass & Yukon Route Railway” in Skagway. The story of the construction of that railroad was incredible and the speed in which it was built was astounding. Then all the heavy mining equipment headed to the Yukon had a much easier route.
Same with the silver mining district in Idaho and other mining districts throughout Montana, Nevada and California. People don’t realize how fast huge capital and enormous machinery was purchased, built (often in England), transported long distances to these remote mines and constructed on site.
It’s also amazing that skilled engineers, constructors, trades people, and laborers heard about the work and flooded into the areas.
When there’s big money to be made, people can really hustle.
It’s going to take more than a few beads, a bottle of gin and some colored glass to appease them this time... Some brand new skidoos and some nice Canada Goose parkas would be a good start... Add a couple of suitcases full of cash and then you’re talking.
Nunavut. Soon to be home to a million casinos. More than Las Vegas.
I see this as a good thing. Later down the road, Quebec may do the same thing. Then why not Alberta?
It is the newest investment scheme and they call these companies. They tried to here, but some got wind of this and encouraged State Attorney Generals to take it to the SEC and they made the stock exchanges remove NACs (National Asset Companies) from the exchanges. It is a clever way to steal the public lands from We The People and to control the assets like a commodity. But they will try again, rest assured of that.
“I see this as a good thing. Later down the road, Quebec may do the same thing. Then why not Alberta?”
Do the other provinces have the same treatment?
High time? I didn’t know they smoked pot.
CCP is champing at the bit for a chance to buy mining rights. they’ve already been buying plenty of USA farmland as well.
I don’t think it matters. The Canadian Truckers stood up to Justin Trudeau two years ago. So they’re capable of a movement like that again if they’re motivated enough and willing to risk arrests and having their banks cut off by the central government.
Quebec and Alberta are provinces of Canada, so legally speaking, I’m sure their status in Canada is different from this territory.
It’s probably analogous to how US possessions such as Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have a different status, because they are not states.
True. But Quebec almost voted for independence. So there you go. So if there's some self-government in Nunavut, the French folks in Quebec may make a push for it. But I just looked up the demographics of Montreal. A lot of immigrants from Africa and the Middle East there. Pretty smart move by the Liberals. They will vote to maintain the status quo.
They’re too woke to even muster a rifle section now. Oh well. We all have bigger problems.
It’s already in law, provinces can separate and Alberta is getting mighty close.
They should immediately sign a military treaty with Putin
the reaction would be hilarious
“...and they can now profit off the land that they own... They are now open for business.”
As long as they BEHAVE in a way acceptable to the Canadian government in Ottawa. Otherwise, they’ll get the “Canadian Trucker Treatment”.
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