First Nation Organizations Launch Joint Land and Fiscal Agenda to Power Canada’s Economic Transformation

October 7, 2025

Westbank, B.C.— The Lands Advisory Board (LAB) and the First Nations Tax Commission (FNTC) have united around a bold legislative agenda designed to unlock investment, accelerate land and housing development, and strengthen governance. By aligning land and fiscal authorities, this joint plan positions First Nations not only to fully participate in—but to help drive—the federal government’s economic transformation.

First Nations involved in both the Framework Agreement on First Nation Land Management (Framework Agreement) and Fiscal Management Act (FMA) are demonstrating faster economic growth, stronger governance, and greater jurisdictional certainty than federally designed programs. Increasingly, First Nations are using these legislative tools to advance their priorities, realizing further benefits by exercising critical governmental authority to enhance the value of their lands, strengthen First Nation law and enforcement, increase land certainty, reduce land transaction costs, and generate new sources of revenue. By restoring competitive investment conditions weakened by the Indian Act, Framework Agreement and FMA Nations are closing public sector gaps, attracting investment, improving infrastructure and services, and generating sustainable revenues.

The LAB is advancing numerous proposals including the establishment of a First Nation land registry and surveying authority, streamline Additions-to-Reserve (ATR) through a dedicated approval institution, and explore a communal land title option to transfer lands directly from provincial to First Nation jurisdiction. The LAB also seeks to secure regulatory authority for faster ATR processes and expand the registry into treaty and title territories to strengthen land, resource, environmental, and cultural governance.

In parallel, FNTC is advancing proposals to expand FMA revenue tools for land acquisition, strengthen fiscal powers through new taxation options, and establish a First Nation Assessment Authority to modernize tax systems. Additional initiatives include creating a coordinated First Nation Resource Tax, supporting Framework Agreement amendments to enable environmental review and management systems, and working with other FMA institutions to develop self-insurance and infrastructure risk management frameworks.

Together, the LAB and FNTC are ensuring that land and fiscal authorities advance in tandem, maximizing opportunities for First Nations to contribute to stronger, more sustainable economic growth across Canada.

Quotes

“First Nations are proving that with the right tools, we can grow our economies faster, create certainty for investment, and strengthen our communities. This joint agenda ensures that more

Nations can seize the opportunities of Canada’s economic transformation while protecting our lands and advancing our jurisdiction.” said LAB Chairman, Chief Robert Louie.

FNTC Chief Commissioner, Manny Jules added: “By working together, LAB and FNTC are helping First Nations unlock their full economic potential. These proposals not only accelerate land acquisition and investment but also strengthen Canada’s overall productivity. When First Nations succeed, the entire country benefits.””

About the First Nations Lands Advisory Board (LAB)

The Lands Advisory Board (LAB), established under the Framework Agreement on First Nation Land Management, represents and advocates for its more than 250 participating First Nations. For nearly 30 years, the Framework Agreement has enabled First Nations to reclaim jurisdiction over their lands, environment, and natural resources. The LAB provides strategic guidance to communities, as well as to provincial, federal, and other partners, to advance and strengthen First Nations land governance.

About the First Nations Tax Commission (FNTC)

The FNTC undertakes a comprehensive range of functions and services designed to meet the evolving interests, needs and circumstances of First Nations and their taxpayers. The aim of these functions and services is to ensure the integrity of the system of First Nation real property taxation, and to promote a common approach to First Nation real property taxation nationwide, having regard to variations in provincial real property taxation systems.

Associated links:

LAB-FNTC Joint Legislation Backgrounder
Lands Advisory Board

Framework Agreement on First Nation Land Management
First Nations Tax Commission
Fiscal Management Act

For more information, media may contact:

Suzanne Winch, Manager, Communications
First Nations Land Management Resource Centre, Inc.
suzanne.winch@labrc.com
905-914-0334

Brent Moreau, Director, Intergovernmental Affairs
First Nations Tax Commission
bmoreau@fntc.ca
613-789-5000, ext. 201

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