Québec Mines + Énergie - CDEPNQL

Québec Mines + Énergie PROMOTING FIRST NATIONS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND CULTURE

From November 20th to the 22nd 2018, the FNQLEDC partnered for a fourth consecutive year with the congrès Québec Mines, to which was added an Energy segment. Following is a summary of the activities organized by our team during this large-scale event.

This year, the team of the Quebec Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources assigned us a space of 40 x 60 feet, which we could accommodate at our convenience. We therefore decided that this space would be a venue to showcase the economic development and the culture of the First Nations. To this end, we invited partnering organizations, such as the Quebec Aboriginal Tourism and the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Sustainable Development Institute to participate in the convention as exhibitors. On November 20th and 21st, we invited craftspeople who were pleased to demonstrate their art while making a drum and a bark canoe.

FNQLEDC UPGRADING OF ITS BRAND IMAGE WITH A NEW LOGO 2

NETWORKING AND DISCUSSION PANEL ON SOCIAL ECONOMY 3

A FIRST NATIONS DELEGATION AT THE GLOBAL SOCIAL ECONOMY FORUM 4

NIKAWI ASKI PROJECT MAKING WASTE MATERIAL MANAGEMENT A SOCIAL PROJECT 5

NITASKINAN COOP - A COOPERATIVE SERVICING THE SOCIOECONOMIC AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNITIES 6

ABORIGINAL COLLECTIVE AND FORESTRY DEVELOPMENT IS UNDER WAY IN OPITCIWAN 7

PROMOTING SEAFOOD PRODUCTS AND SEAFARING OCCUPATIONS 8

FIRST NATIONS HOUSING CRISIS: NEW SOLUTION AND BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR FIRST NATIONS 9

SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ECONOMIC AUTONOMY OF WOMEN 11

FNQLEDC IN THE FIELD 12

TOURISM COLUMN 13

TAX COLUMN 15

THE ABORIGINAL BUSINESS DIRECTORY IS UNDERGOING A MAKEOVER! 16

UPCOMING EVENTS AT THE FNQLEDC 16

CEDO’S PATHDEC. 2018 | VOL. 18 | N° 3

CDEPNQL.ORG

Networking cocktail held on November 20 2018.

FIRST NATIONS OF QUEBEC AND LABRADOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION (FNQLEDC)

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2 | NIKAN | DECEMBER 2018

NETWORKING COCKTAILOver the years, our networking cocktail has become one of the most popular and valued activities of exhibitors and conven-tioneers. Once again this year, over 200 people were present to network amongst themselves and meet First Nation entrepre-neurs. Every year, we invite Aboriginal artists to perform on the

main stage and kick off our cocktail. For the 2018 edition, we had invited pow-wow dancers for short demonstrations of three traditional dances, a performance that wowed the audience.

PRESENTATION OF CONFERENCESFor the first year, the FNQLEDC was invited to prepare a schedule of conferences presented within the scope of the regular programming of Québec Mines + Énergie. This has led us to present conferences by the Regional Chief of the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador, Ghislain Picard, and by Mr. Olivier Courtemanche, from the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Sustainable Development Institute. Mr. Shaun Loney, who has been working for several years now with the Manitoba First Nations, was also invited to make a presentation whereby he explained how the communities could relaunch their own economy

In conclusion, our entire team is very pleased with the unfold-ing of the various activities organized at the convention and we believe that the latter will likely provide positive benefits for the enterprises of our communities.

Exhibitors present at the First Nations space.

FNQLEDC UPGRADING OF ITS BRAND IMAGE WITH A NEW LOGOOver the past few months, the FNQLEDC undertook the modernization of its brand logo which is now in line with modern requirements.

The logo of an organization or an enterprise is very important, because it is the visual element that allows its clientele to identify it at a glance. The same applies to the logo of the FNQLEDC which is its visual signature. The logo which had been created in the early 2000’ needed to be actualized and modernized with contemporary tastes and colors.

Some of those changes include the removal of the threads in the dreamcatcher which kind of overburdened the logo and did not yield good printed output. New and brighter colours were used to put life back into the logo. In addition, a new colour scheme, using secondary colours to be used in the documents on which the logo will be displayed, was developed.

We have started to use our new logo in the last few weeks, and as of January 2019, we will gradually proceed to the replacement of the old logo in all our documents and visual materials.

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DECEMBER 2018 | NIKAN | 3

NETWORKING AND DISCUSSION PANEL ON SOCIAL ECONOMY

On this past November 5th, the Social Economy Advisor of the FNQLEDC, Karine Awashish, facilitated a networking and discussion panel on social economy, at Hôtel-Musée Premières Nations of Wendake.

November is the month of social economy. To mark the occasion, the FNQLEDC, in collaboration with the Pôle des entreprises d’économie sociale de la région de la Capitale-Nationale (PôleCN), organized a networking and discussion panel on social economy. This event also marked the official launching of the activities held in the context of Semaines de l’économie sociale de la Capitale-Nationale.

A group of about twenty people attended this discussion panel which included speakers Louis-Karl Picard-Sioui, Yves Picard, Director General of the Indian Craftmen of Quebec and Félix Bussières, Director General of PôleCN. The discussions provided an opportunity to demonstrate the existing linkage between social economy and the First Nations values and culture. After the discussion, the participants were invited to restaurant La Traite for a social gathering where they could network amongst themselves while tasting appetizers with aboriginal flavours accent.

For any additional information concerning social economy, please do not hesitate to contact our Advisor, Karine Awashish, at 418 843-1488, extension 1230, or by email, at [email protected]

After hour networking reception on social economy.

Joyeuses fêtes! Happy holidays!

Veuillez noter que nos bureaux seront fermés pour la période des Fêtesdu 24 décembre 2018 au 4 janvier 2019

Please note that our office will be closed for the Holidays Seasonfrom December 24, 2018 to January 4, 2019

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A FIRST NATIONS DELEGATION AT THE GLOBAL SOCIAL ECONOMY FORUMOn October 1st to the 3rd of 2018, the FNQLEDC accompanied a delegation composed of First Nations young entrepreneurs and representatives, in Bilbao, Spain, to participate in the fourth edition of the Global Social Economy Forum (GSEF).

The GSEF is an international network that brings together local governments and civil society stakeholders. The GSEF aims to serve as a hub for sharing visions and experiences through cross-border collaboration and cooperation based on multilateral partnerships for an inclu-sive, equitable and human centered wold for all of us. With this delegation, the FNQLEDC wanted to offer young entrepreneurs an oppor-tunity to draw inspiration from social economy practices from all over the world. The project was made possible through a partnership with LOJIQ1, the FNSERT2, the FNQLYN3 and the FNQLHSSC4. The delegation consisted in:

• Four Aboriginal entrepreneurs who participated in the 2017 StartUP Nations, whose collective entrepreneurship projects included a housing cooperative and a catering service;

• Karine Awashish, Social Economy Advisor for the FNQLEDC and Coordinator of the FNSERT;• Annick Tremblay, Regional Coordinator of the FNQLYN;• Catherine Côté, Social Development Advisor for the FNQLHSSC.

A VALUED EXPERIENCE FOR ALL STAKEHOLDERS“We are very happy to have given the chance to entrepreneurs to experience the passion of people from all over the world for the development and recognition of social economy for a more just, sustainable world that speaks for human values. This expe-rience is an opportunity to give more visibility to the First Nations at international level, stated” Karine Awashish. Entrepreneurs particularly enjoyed the event and they came back with tools that allow them to pursue their respective projects. More than ever, they believe in the relevance of the social economy model in relation to First Nations values and for the development.

The FNQLEDC would like to thank all of its partners for having made this initiative possible!

WHAT EXACTLY IS GLOBAL SOCIAL ECONOMY FORUM? This initiative was initiated in 2013 by the City of Seoul (South Korea), following the adoption of the Seoul Declaration which advocates for the need for global solidarity in favour of social economy. The goal aims the creation of quality jobs, fair growth, progress of grassroots democracy and sustainable development.

For its fourth edition, the GSEF hosted 1700 participants from 84 countries. The central theme for this year was “Values and competitiveness for an inclusive and sustainable local development”. Through conferences, workshops and technical visits, the forum was divided into four areas: the co-creation of public policies; the contribution of social economy to the transfor-mation of the territory; the challenges for the growth of social economy organizations; the future of work and employment; the role of social economy.

1 Les Offices jeunesse internationaux du Québec2 First Nations Social Economy Regional Table3 First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Youth Network4 First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Health and Social Services Commission

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Nikawi Aski Project MAKING WASTE MATERIAL MANAGEMENT A SOCIAL PROJECTSince summer 2018, the Atikamekw community of Manawan can boast that it has its own eco-center. Various partners and the public made this social economy project possible. Here’s a snapshot of this great project closely related to First Nations values.

The Nikawi Aski Eco-center was born from the willingness of community members to take control of their waste manage-ment and ensure its community landfill would be viable for as long as possible. The Center is located on the territory, right next door to the landfill whose access is securely blocked off to the public. This measure has two objectives: first and foremost, blocking access prevents individuals from outside the com-munity from dropping off their waste in Manawan; secondly, passing materials through the eco-center beforehand helps reduce the amount of waste going directly into the landfill and avoids overloading and overflow.

PROJECT COMPLETIONThe Manawan Atikamekw Council in collaboration with Nitaskinan Coop and Consortium Écho-Logique manages Nikawi Aski. Although the first steps were undertaken in fall 2017, with winter upon their doorstep, the partners did not have the time to build the infrastructures necessary for the Center’s operations at that time. Nonetheless, the delay gave them the time needed to get familiar with managing an eco-center as well as proceed with the characterisation of the community’s waste. What is characterisation of waste? It entails an exer-cise that allows one to analyze a sample of waste by sorting, weighing, etc. The exercise painted a precise portrait of what is thrown away in Manawan and the ability to extrapolate the results over a one-year period. Then, from this analysis, the project managers were able to go ahead with the purchase of equipment, prepare the plans for a ramp, etc. In addition, over those few months, everyone involved in Nikawi Aski got to know each other, which is another key component towards success. The project is now in its second year of operations and blue bin home collection begun in November 2018.

MAKING THE ECO-CENTER A SOCIAL PROJECTAs previously mentioned, currently the Manawan Atikamekw Council handles Nikawi Aski but ultimately the commu-nity would like to see it become a non-profit organization. Over and above taking control of the Center’s operations, the NPO could also develop projects connected to behav-ioural changes, enabling healthy territory management. Additionally, more related projects involving commu-nity members could be put into place, which will generate

benefits for the latter. For example, according to the con-ducted waste characterization exercise we spoke of earlier, results highlighted that consigned containers of monetary value represent a significant percentage of trashed products. That being said, groups of youth could decide to gather the cans and bottles, return them for refund, and use the money to fund school or sporting activities. Scholarships or grants could also be created to reward community members, com-panies or organizations that use best practices. In keeping with this principle of putting into place these types of mea-sures, people will be proud of their eco-center and inclined to get involved in any related projects to come.

INFORMATION AND AWARENESSIn spring 2018, a coordinator was hired to manage the eco-center. The individual had to double down to get familiar with the waste management sector and the administrative tasks associated with running this type of business, etc. During his learning period, he was able to take advantage of the exper-tise and support from Nitaskinan Coop as well as other social economy organizations implicated in the project.

For public information and awareness purposes, workshops were presented in the community. A guide was written and distributed, both in French and Atikamekw, to advise the public on what can and cannot be sent to the Center. In every

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document and through all activities, waste management was underlined as an activity directly related to territory protection of which, First Nations members are the guardians. The project is also in line with traditional Atikamekw values giving it added significance.

In the coming months, visits to community retail establishments and organizations will take place to determine what types of waste are generated. Thereafter, posters will be produced informing employees and janitorial services on the best way

to adequately dispose of waste. Audio capsules will also be produced and shared on their local community radio station.

In conclusion, the least that one can say is that in Manawan, everything needed is put into place to incite the public to par-ticipate in the Nikawi Aski. Moreover, the Center is sparking interest from other communities wherein they are very curious to find out how its team managed to mobilise so many people around this great project.

NITASKINAN COOP - A COOPERATIVE SERVICING THE SOCIOECONOMIC AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNITIESNitaskinan Coop is an Aboriginal cooperative registered under the Cooperatives Act. A social economy enterprise founded in 2015, the Coop ‘s mission is to create quality employment for its current and future members while contributing to the socioeconomic and cultural development of First Nations.

How does Nitaskinan Coop work? It’s a solidarity and worker cooperative, which means that each worker who is a member brings its experience and expertise, which allows Nitaskinan to continually provide new services to its clients. Different activ-ity sectors are covered such as project management, cultural consultation and research. The mandates vary greatly; for example, there can be waste material management all the way to hosting cultural workshops. At the current moment, the team is comprised of four individuals but the amount can be higher based on active projects or the time of year.

EMPOWERING PROJECT MANAGERSWhen Nitaskinan is involved in a project, its goal is not to acquire or take over but rather, put everything into place so that the project operates smoothly and is supported by the sector. This allows its team to have the opportunity to be able to put its energy in developing other projects. Once a project is well established, the Coop withdraws but remains available if needed, for instance, wherein a project needs to move to a higher level or when specific expertise is required to resolve a problem.

The services offered by the Coop, guided by an Aboriginal vision in terms of development, are not free of charge; how-ever, the fees are generally more competitive than those found through other firms offering similar services.

You’re interested in learning more about Nitaskinan Coop? Please visit their website at www.coopnitaskinan.com

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ABORIGINAL COLLECTIVE AND FORESTRY DEVELOPMENT IS UNDER WAY IN OPITCIWANThe Coopérative de Travail Inter-Nations (CTIN) was created in Opitciwan in 2009. Specialized in forest management and in integrated natural resources management, the coop has been able to take root in its territory and move to another level in 2018.

Mr. Jean Paul Awashish, President of the Cooperative and Mr. Christian Weizineau, the team leader of felling and processing productivity discussing with Daniel Fortin, Hydromec representative.

The CTIN is the first enterprise amongst Quebec First Nations to operate within a model of social economy. The idea of form-ing a coop came from a meeting of eight Atikamekw forestry workers, namely Jean-Paul Awashish, who found themselves unemployed during two years (2007-2008). Their goal was to help forestry workers take charge of their own destinies by becoming both the owner of their enterprise and an employee. Thanks to the support and coaching efforts of Jacques Verrier, a Cooperative Development Advisor for the community of Opitciwan, a group of founding members was created in the spring of 2008 and this community project was established in the summer of 2009.

From the outset, this community enterprise was able to pro-vide work to some thirty people or so. Five seasons after its creation, the CTIN had replanted close to 9 million trees, generated revenues of approximately 4.4 million dollars and disbursed 2.5 million dollars in salary to its members, not to mention the acquisition of key assets for the completion of the works. The coop employs approximately forty experienced seasonal workers.

The enterprise possesses the BNQ-FEMP Certification which confirms the company’s best practices for forestry enterprises management carrying out non-commercial work (site prepa-ration, planting, pruning, forest drainage etc.) in Quebec public forests, which allows them to bid every year on all the con-tracts of Rexforêt, an agency designated by the Department of Forests, Wildlife and Parks to ensure a sustainable forest management. The CTIN is also accredited to bid and negoti-ate works on vegetation control with Hydro-Québec and it has concluded a contract for felling and skidding operations with Scierie Opitciwan Limited Partnership. It is also the requested entrepreneur in the Northern sector for the silvicultural works of its client, Gestion Forestière Saint-Maurice, from 2018 to 2023.

2018-2023: THE NEW FIVE-YEAR FORESTRY PLAN In order to continuously enlarge its activity of timber harvest and to meet the demands of its customers, the coop intends to acquire new equipment for tree cutting, consolidate the jobs of its people on an annual basis and train new skilled workers who will ensure the business succession, as of 2019.

It is within this context of growth that the year of 2018 marked a turning point in the history of CTIN. Effectively, the con-templated investments will ensure the long-term future of its activities and will enable it to cope with the shortage in labour and businesses in the forestry cutting industry, both in Lac Saint-Jean and in Mauricie.

This innovative project initiated other collective entrepreneur-ial projects, such as an Atikamekw cooperative in the forestry sector which was created in Wemotaci, in 2011, and a soli-darity cooperative created by artists and craftspeople of the Atikamekw Nation, in 2010.

In conclusion, the model of social economy represents a won-derful alternative for First Nations people who wish to create their own jobs and contribute to the economic development of their community.

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PROMOTING SEAFOOD PRODUCTS AND SEAFARING OCCUPATIONSOn October 10 2018, the Mi’gmaq Maliseet Aboriginal Fisheries Management Association (MMAFMA) was awarded a grant of 2,7 million dollars from three different federal departments.

The MMAFMA was created in 2012 by the Mi’gmaq com-munities of Gespeg and Gesgapegiag and by the Maliseet community of Viger. The mission of the Association consists in promoting the sustainable management and conservation of aquatic and oceans ecosystems. The subsidy received will help finance three projects: the development of the SALAWEG food product line, the training of the Mi’gmaq and Maliseet community members aboard the Nignag training ship and the restoration of coastal habitats. Following, is an overview of the first two projects, which will result in significant eco-nomic impacts throughout the three communities.

SALAWEG: ENHANCING THE MARITIME DIMENSIONSalaweg is a pilot project spearheaded by the MMAFMA. “The project was born out of the will of the three member communities who wanted to find new ways of transforming biomass, and diversify the exploitation of marine resources found in Gaspésie and the Lower St. Lawrence”, stated the Director General of the MMAFMA, Catherine Lambert Koizumi. After four years of research and development, SALAWEG began operations in 2017 with the launching of four products: a sea relish, a tartar mix, fish spices and meat spices. These products are fabricated from seaweed grown in the clear and colder water of Gaspésie, known as the sugar kelp. Now holder of an aquaculture site in Paspébiac where seaweeds will be harvested for the first time in June 2019, the MMAFMA expects that this year, its seaweed production will increase from 3 tons to 10 tons. “MMAFMA is not an economic development organization, specified Ms. Lambert Koizumi. We therefore wish to transfer SALAWEG to an entity that will be owned by the three communities and which will be able to develop and market innovative products on a larger scale”. SALAWEG products will come on the market in a very near future at a nearby shop.

NIGNAG : A MULTI-TASK TRAINING SHIPLast year, the MMAFMA acquired a training ship, called the Nignag. This small multispecies fishing boat is rigged for mackerel, tuna and lobster fishing and it has recently acquired equipment for aquaculture. It is therefore a very versatile boat. According to Guy-Pascal Weiner, who is the coordinator of Pêcheries Malécites, the objective of this boat is “to introduce community members to fishing and train the current fishermen in new forms of fisheries”. Positions are

difficult to fill in community fishing enterprises, given that they are looking for a skilled labour force. The federal assistance received comes at a good time, in Mr. Weiner’s views, since it “will provide an opportunity to interested people to give it a try and acquire skills on the training-ship; this will allow them to return to their communities with sufficient experience to be hired by community businesses”. Four types of training are offered on the Nignag : initiation to fishing and aquaculture, training as fisherman-helper or professional diver, training and accreditation as Masters, and Masters’ skills develop-ment to broaden their fields of expertise. In practical terms, in a community such as Viger, which owns licences for different types of fishing, the training provided through the MMAFMA will allow them to develop the skills of 15 people who cur-rently work for Pêcheries Malécites and help extend their employability and recruit a new generation. All in all, there are several dozens of members of the Mi’gmaq and Maliseet communities who work in the fishing industry.

Project completion will spread over a period of 36 months. We can therefore affirm that the team of the MMAFMA knows there is a lot of work ahead for them over the coming months.

Perry Martin, Sandra Autef, Troy Jerome and Emmanuel Sandt-Duguay, Members of the MMAFMA. P

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A house for sale in the Algonquin community of Pikogan.

FIRST NATIONS HOUSING CRISIS: NEW SOLUTION AND BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR FIRST NATIONSHousing shortage, overcrowding, lack of maintenance, insalubrity, health problems, social problems, etc. For quite some time now, the housing crisis that has plagued our First Nations is obvious and of grave concern. The numerous issues arising from the situation are significant and continuously making headlines.

Housing shortage, overcrowding, lack of maintenance, insalubrity, health problems, social problems, etc. For quite some time now, the housing crisis that has plagued our First Nations is obvious and of grave concern. The numerous issues arising from the situation are significant and continu-ously making headlines.

However, at the moment, there’s good news getting some attention. Two communities in Quebec have recently imple-mented a housing program that enables its members to become proud homeowners. This program was made possible through the financial support and expertise of the Aboriginal Savings Corporation of Canada (ABSCAN), a non-profit organi-zation created by and for First Nations and its members.

The two communities, Pikogan and Wemotaci, have recently developed access to a private property program that allows their members to acquire, renovate or build their house through, among others, loans granted by ABSCAN. Not only does this initiative reduce the financial burden of communi-ties but it also provides, during the sale of a property, a new

source of available revenues towards leveraging the develop-ment of innovative projects. A new and exciting model is on the horizon.

THE MAJOR BENEFITSAccess to property for First Nations members highlights unde-niable socio-economic advantages. • Notable improvement in terms of individual and collective

quality of life;• Generating individual and community wealth;• Establishing family patrimony (next generation legacy);• Improved balance in the distribution of social housing, based

on real needs and the financial reality of community members;• Reducing pressure on band councils wherein they would no

longer have to assume full responsibility in terms of housing;• Creating business opportunities for First Nations members

(companies specializing in renovation, construction, etc.);• Retaining members in communities (maintenance and

employment opportunities).

A MODEL ADAPTED TO THE REALITIES OF FIRST NATIONSThe proposed funding model is simple. Since its establish-ment in 2005, ABSCAN invests the funds thus collected of First Nations members and institutional investors in compliance with the regulatory requirements prescribed by the “Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF)”. Close to 39M$ has been raised over 13 years. Among other areas, the sums are invested in First Nations housing, with loans to community members towards acquiring, building or renovating a personal house. The loans granted by ABSCAN are solely based on the value of houses and an individual’s eligibility and capabilities of repayment. ABSCAN also allows the communities to build and renovate social housing by proposing loans that are adapted to their reality. Furthermore, the solution put forth by ABSCAN enables the communities to be released of their financial responsibili-ties that are otherwise required with traditional models related to housing (ex: ministerial guarantee).

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Business opportunities stemming from this are abundant and the creation and/or development of new employment opportunities among First Nations are every bit as significant (carpenters, tinsmiths, plumbers, designers, surveyors, notaries, accountants, etc.). This new economic expansion will not only grow a sense of pride, but also increase wealth within the com-munities. ABSCAN is looking ahead and its ultimate vision is to go above and beyond with the communities.

“We’re proud of the work we’ve accomplished to date and we’re in a position to report that the needs are significant and real. We want to provide our services to all Aboriginal commu-nities in Quebec as quickly as possible”, stated Martin Légaré, ABSCAN General Manager.

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SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ECONOMIC AUTONOMY OF WOMENOn November 21st and 22nd, the FNQLEDC organized and hosted a meeting that gathered a working group comprised of elected women, economic development agents as well as representatives from First Nations associations of women.

The meeting was initiated and overseen by Emmanuel Bertrand-Gauvin, FNQLEDC Women Entrepreneurship Advisor. His objective was to present a progress status on the women’s economic autonomy portfolio and identify key priorities on which the group should concentrate its efforts over the coming months. Also in attendance was AFNQL Regional Chief, Ghislain Picard, accom-panied by the new Aboriginal Affairs Minister.

Established in 2014, our women entrepreneurship service is the only service specifically intended for First Nations women in this market. It is aimed at developing women’s entrepreneurial culture towards creating and develop-ing businesses. Additionally, in collaboration with the Elected Women of the Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador (AFNQL), our service pro-vides elected officials technical support with developing projects and food for thought in terms of economic development within their communities. AFNQL Elected Women and the FNQLEDC have been closely working together for four years with the ultimate goal of improving the economic autonomy of First Nations women as a whole.

In addition, our advisor used this opportunity to launch a collaborative platform that will allow him to provide accompaniment to elected officials, keeping in line with economic development. The platform is currently in a trial period with some group members and will be more widely used in spring 2019.

You’re interested in finding out more? Don’t hesitate to contact Emmanuel Bertrand-Gauvin by email at [email protected] or by telephone, at (418) 843-1488, ext. 1227.

Our Women Entrepreneurship Advisor with other participants in the meeting, in company of Chief Ghislain Picard.

The members of the working group during the discussions.

First Nation Housing Policy and Market Housing

dnhgroup.ca

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On November 8 2018, the FNQLEDC

participated in the Salon de l’Emploi

Mamu, (Mamu Job Fair) which was taking

place in Montreal’s Place des Arts. It

was an opportunity for us to present our

extensive range of services and promote

entrepreneurship as a career option!

French-speaking and English-speaking CEDOs participated in a training on the specific topic of ‘A Business Plan: tools and approaches for the CEDOs’, in Montreal, from November 6 to 8 2018. This first training, whose content was created and presented entirely by the team of the FNQLEDC, was a huge success!

On October 30 2018, we met at our office the new President of BMO Québec, Mr. Claude Gagnon, who was conducting a tour of the First Nation organizations. He was accompanied by Mr. François Morin, Director General, Corporate Communications, Quebec and Atlantic.

Our Social Economy Advisor, Karine Awashish, and the Director General of Pôle des entreprises d’économie sociale de la région de la Capitale-Nationale, Mr. Félix Bussières, during the panel discussion on social economy, held on November 5 2018.

From November 26 to 29 2018, our Youth Entrepreneurship Advisor, Myriam Vallières, accompanied a delegation of young entrepreneurs at the Young Entrepreneurship Symposium 2018, in Edmonton, a project made possible through a partnership between the FNQLEDC and LOJIQ.

Part of our team

staffing the booth

of the FNQLEDC,

in First Nations

space of the

Québec Mines +

Énergie Congress.

FNQLEDCin the

field

ENTREPRENEUR’S CORNER


Quebec Aboriginal Tourism (QAT) represents close to 150 Aboriginal tourism companies from Quebec’s 11 nations. The conveyance of culture, hand in hand with their social purpose, is at the core of their activities. In fact, over the years, Aboriginal tourism has consistently demonstrated its contribution both on a socio-economic plan and through the enhancement of Aboriginal culture and history within the communities. This impact can be felt in a variety of ways whether by the integration of community members in the job market, increasing a People’s pride, environmental conservation, maintaining and developing services on the territory, etc. In that respect, it’s obvious that through various forms, QAT members promote and contribute to the development of Aboriginal communities and individuals in Quebec.

COMMON MISSIONAn Aboriginal tourism organization can take varied forms. For example, it can be of a private nature, public, or for non-profit, etc. According to the social economy act: “A social economy enterprise conducts economic activities with social purpose, meaning it sells or exchanges goods and services not with the specific goal of making a profit but rather to address the needs of its members or the community in which it operates.” That being said, we can conclude with certainty that certain tourism companies, such as the ones from the Native Friendship Centers Movement, meet the definition of a social economy enterprise. It is with great pride that for several years now, QAT includes two of these centers as active members: the Val-d’Or Native Friendship Center and Senneterre Native Friendship Center.

KINAWIT CULTURAL SITEFor over 40 years, the Val d’Or Friendship Center has been dedicated to preserving culture and bringing First Peoples together. In 2012, the Center becomes the proprietor of a location resulting in the Kinawit Cultural Site, situated on the banks of Lac Lemoine just 12 kilometers from downtown Val d’Or. The site invites you to delve into the Anicinabe adventure and gain valuable knowledge regarding their thousand-year presence. Whether in a tee pee or a rustic cabin, you will find yourself authentically immersed at the heart of the forest. During guided tours, cultural workshops or forest trails, the visi-tor has the opportunity to directly interact with the Anicinabek, a people very proud of their roots.

Thus, the activities offered on site contribute to promoting culture but also highlight to visitors the reality and distinctive-ness of Aboriginal culture. It is quite evident that this is a big

ABORIGINAL TOURISM IN QUEBEC: A CONSIDERABLE SOCIAL CONTRIBUTION!

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step towards bringing cultural awareness and people together through tourism and pleasure. Moreover, “Kinawit is aimed at discovery and cultural and identity preservation as well as validation, through a unique and authentic touristic approach from First Peoples traditional and contemporary knowledge, while promoting encounters, exchanges, expression and inter-generational communication”. All this is accomplished with care and respect for the ancestral territory and environment that surrounds them. What a beautiful example of a social economy project in the tourism sector!

SHABOGAMAK CHALETThe Senneterre Friendship Center officially opened the doors to its new Shabogamak Chalet on May 24th, 2018, followed by the inauguration just this past November during the Center’s 40th Anniversary. Nestled at the mouth of three significant rivers, the visitor is enveloped in the distinguishing cultural identity of the Algonquin People.

The development of this project focused on authentic cul-tural vacations, gastronomy, walking trails, guided canoeing and eco-tourism, making it another magnificent example of a social tourism project. Among other things, it fosters inter-esting jobs for youth by offering Aboriginal tourism-based training, preserves culture through various intergenerational workshops and develops authentic intercultural relationships. A tourism experience placing the human being at the core of an enchanting unbeaten path.

SOCIAL VALUES OMNIPRESENT THROUGHOUT QAT MEMBERSBy their missions and objectives, the tourism experiences offered by social economy organizations, such as those found under the Native Friendship Centers, are aimed at reinforcing the identity of Aboriginal community members by providing a location for exchanging and sharing and of course, by culturally contributing to the socioeconomic development of Quebec. These companies are increasing in the tourism industry such as Atikuss, in Uashat, or the “Fédération des coopératives du Nouveau-Québec”, in Nunavik, to Kina8at in the Laurentians, making them all shining examples of social economy busi-nesses of Quebec’s First Nations and Inuit.

By drawing a more global portrait of our members’ activities, it’s clear that several of them are establishing means that are not only restoring pride to Aboriginals but also the opportunity to share their culture and preserve their environment. Visiting an Aboriginal tourism business in Quebec is therefore partici-pating in the social economy of 11 nations in this province along with their development.

Contact information:Quebec Aboriginal Tourism50, boul. Maurice-Bastien, Room 510, 3rd floorWendake (Quebec) G0A 4V0Phone: (418) 843-5030Toll Free: 1 877-698-7827Email: [email protected]

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COOPERATIVE FORMULA: HOW IT IS AFFECTING THE MANAGEMENT OF THE GST, THE HST AND THE QST? PAR LOUIS AMIREAULT, CPA, CA, DIRECTEUR PRINCIPAL, DELOITTE S.E.N.C.R.L./S.R.L.

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In order to determine the administration of sales taxes on operations carried out by any relevant person, it is important to clarify the legal status of this person, in accordance with the provisions set out in the Excise Tax Act (ETA) and the Quebec Sales Tax Act (QSTA).

b. It has the power at any time to declare and pay dividends out of income or patronage dividends out of surplus; or

c. It, in the case of a winding-up, dissolution or amalgamation, has the power to distribute income to a member.

Fiscal authorities are of the view that certain types of pay-ments made directly to members, or indirectly for their benefit, will not, in and by themselves, disqualify an entity from being a non-profit organization. Such payments include salaries, wages, fees or honoraria for services rendered to the entity, provided that amounts paid are reasonable and no more than those paid in arm’s length situations for similar services.

Therefore, the instruments of a cooperative, its constitution and by-laws, how it conducts its business and the form of remuneration of its members are all decisive elements in its qualification or not as a non-profit organization.

CONCLUSIONIt is therefore of paramount importance to analyze the status of a cooperative in terms of consumption taxes. Depending on the type of activities carried out, this can make a difference on the qualification of the types of supplies made, and on the methods of recovery of taxes paid on expenses committed. It is recommended to call upon a consumption tax expert to determine clearly the application of consumption taxes.

Louis Amireault, CPA, CA Senior Director | Indirect Taxes / Taxation Deloitte S.E.N.C.R.L./s.r.l.100, Rue St-Joseph Sud, suite 110, Alma (Quebec) G8B 7A6Direct Line : +418-669-2762 | Fax : +418-668-2966 General Line : [email protected] | deloitte.ca

The provision of a supply of a property or a service can be taxable, zero-rated (0% tax) or else, tax exempt. The qualification of the supplies can be influenced by the status of the person carrying out these activities. In the case of a cooperative, it could fall under the specific provisions governing non-profit organizations, which can lead to exemption for certain supplies.

Pursuant to the ETA and the QSTA, a body shall fulfill the following three conditions to qualify as a NPO:• It was organized solely for non-profit purposes;• It is in fact operated solely for non-profit purposes; and• It does not distribute or otherwise make available for the

personal benefit of any member any of its income unless the member is an association which has as its primary purpose and function the promotion of amateur athletics in Canada.

Tax authorities are of the view that an entity is not operated solely for non-profit purposes when its principal activity is the carrying on of a commercial activity. For example, an activity is not carried out for non-profit purposes if, depending on the case:a. It is a trade or business that is operated in a normal com-

mercial manner;b. Its goods or services are not restricted to members and their

guests; c. It is operated on a profit basis rather than a cost-recovery

basis; ord. It is operated in competition with taxable entities carrying

on the same trade or business.

To be a non-profit organization, no part of the income of an entity, whether current or accumulated, may be payable to or otherwise made available for the personal benefit of, any member of that entity. An entity may fail to comply with this requirement in a variety of ways. For example, an entity would not qualify as a non-profit organization if:a. It distributed income during the year, either directly or indi-

rectly, to or for the personal benefit of any member;

FIRST NATIONS OF QUEBEC AND LABRADOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION

265, Place Chef Michel Laveau, bureau 200, Wendake (Qc) G0A 4V0T: 418 843-1488 | Fax: 418 [email protected] | cdepnql.orgRedaction: Véronique Édé, Marie-Christine TremblayTraduction: Aline ChénéGraphic design: Nancy Pomerleau, Siamois graphisme

WARNING ON PROTECTION AND CONFIDENTIALITY OF INFORMATIONThe information contained in this newsletter is protected in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations. It is therefore prohibited to distribute or to copy any part of this document without the written permission of the FNQLEDC. Legal deposit – National Library of Canada, 2004Legal deposit – Bibliothèque nationale du Québec, 2004

UPCOMING EVENTS AT THE FNQLEDC

CONFERENCE DAYDate: February 2019Place: Quebec

MEETING OF THE FNQLEDC BOARD OF DIRECTORSDate: February 6th, 2019 Place: Montreal

THE ABORIGINAL BUSINESS DIRECTORY IS UNDERGOING A MAKEOVER!Over the past several weeks, the FNQLEDC has achieved the first phase in the overhaul of its Aboriginal Business Directory, a tool which contains just over 1 100 profiles of companies situated both in and outside of the communities.

The Aboriginal Business Directory is a tool that was created in 2015. It was felt that, like all com-puter tools the Directory had to be reviewed in order to address some problems encountered with its operation. With these changes, now it has become easier and faster than ever to do a search in the Directory. A mobile version is now available; it considerably facilitates the access to data banks, from a tablet or a smartphone. Finally, we have used this opportunity to over-haul thoroughly the visual identity of the Directory which has moved towards contemporary and clean-cut lines in design.

In the second phase of the project which will be conducted during the winter of 2019, the Directory will be undergoing a comprehensive update of its data. In addition, we want to improve the content of the fact sheets so as to make them more complete, up-to-date and useful. With the addition of new functionality, the Aboriginal Business Directory will surely become an essential tool for all businesses or people wishing to do business with a First Nation-owned business.

To consult the Directory, please visit: entreprises.cdepnql.org

Québec Mines + Énergie - CDEPNQL

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