Hydro Summary
posted on
Oct 12, 2018 04:55PM
NI 43-101 Update (September 2012): 11.1 Mt @ 1.68% Ni, 0.87% Cu, 0.89 gpt Pt and 3.09 gpt Pd and 0.18 gpt Au (Proven & Probable Reserves) / 8.9 Mt @ 1.10% Ni, 1.14% Cu, 1.16 gpt Pt and 3.49 gpt Pd and 0.30 gpt Au (Inferred Resource)
When I summarize the articles below(4 links), I get the following thoughts :
-Hydro One, will do a deal with Manitoba Hydro ,Quebec Hydro…or most likely..both. Both in order to allow maximum FN participation.
The ROF and the business attracted by it will need lots of power.
-A big reason Hydro one was privatized was that a major source of property tax revenue is available from infrastructure on reserve lands…like transmissions lines for First Nations.
But, crown corporations like Hydro One were exempt from tax…so change that and privatize it…which they did. Hydro One is no longer a crown corporation.
In 2005, federal legislation augmented these powers, allowing First Nations to issue debentures against future revenues in order to develop infrastructure
If the Ontario FN’s have transmission lines on reserve lands they can generate property tax revenue…since Hydro One is no longer a crown Corporation.
They could issue a loan certificate against future revenues from property tax and develop infrastructure….like transmission lines, roads…rail…etc.
http://www.northernpolicy.ca/article/property-tax-powers-by-first-nations-25247.asp
Property Tax Powers by First Nations
October 17, 2016 - Indigenous communities can gain revenue and valuable experience tackling the problem of service provision by taxing residents and businesses on reserve land. First Nations in Canada have tax powers similar to those of municipalities. Under the 1989 Kamloops Amendment to the Indian Act, and the 2005 First Nations Financial Fiscal Management Act (FNFMA), indigenous communities can assert their tax jurisdiction on reserve land. The First Nations Tax Commission certifies property tax bylaws, ensuring that residents paying taxes to indigenous governments are treated fairly, and that they receive services (roads, fire, police protection, water, etc.) in exchange for what they pay.
The power to levy tax stemmed from difficulties experienced by the Kamloops Indian Band (Tk'emlúps te Secwepemc). In the 1960s, the Band developed a business park and collected leases from businesses who resided there. However, the nearby City of Kamloops collected property taxes from those businesses without offering services. The 1989 amendment allowed the Band to collect taxes and to provide maintenance and services, as well as the ability to deal with delinquent ratepayers. In 2005, federal legislation augmented these powers, allowing First Nations to issue debentures against future revenues in order to develop infrastructure.
In 2010-2011, First Nations property tax revenues totaled over $50 million. Meanwhile, the First Nations Tax Commission has worked with many groups – such as the Canadian Energy Pipeline Association - to promote the use of property tax powers and economic partnerships.
In Ontario, few First Nations opt to exercise these powers. There are a number of barriers to their doing so. A major source of property tax revenue would be infrastructure on reserve lands like transmissions lines. But Crown Corporations like Hydro One and Ontario Power Generation are exempt from tax. Although they pay First Nations annually in lieu of taxes, the financial benefits of that these payments provide don't come with requirements to provide services or opportunities to develop experience administering a tax system.
Where indigenous communities do have opportunities to raise revenue and deliver services, many chose not to. Curve Lake First Nation, outside of Peterborough, is home to many recreational leaseholders. Unlike leaseholders on Crown land, cottagers on Curve Lake do not pay the Provincial Land Tax. But Curve Lake First Nation doesn’t impose taxes on cottagers either, nor does it provide municipal services to leaseholders. The rationale from the First Nation has been that local cottagers don't demand these services.1
Earlier this year, the government announced that Fort William First Nation near Thunder Bay would assert its tax jurisdiction under the First Nations Fiscal Management Act. Fort William is a prime candidate to reap the benefits of the FNFMA, having prioritized economic development and partnering with neighbouring non-indigenous communities as a path forward.
A first step to overcoming the challenges that keep First Nations from exercising their tax jurisdiction would be to identify potential opportunities to raise property tax revenue. For example, the Energy East Pipeline project will cross dozens of traditional territories and create millions of dollars’ worth of taxable infrastructure if it is approved.
There are positive benefits to overcoming the challenges that keep First Nations from asserting tax jurisdiction. Developing property tax bylaws and services would allow First Nations and neighbouring non-indigenous communities to develop business opportunities. It would require taxation and service delivery to be conducted in a way that is open, accountable, and leads to long-term stability. Finally it would allow First Nations to take control over providing services and reduce their dependence on federal funding and local service agreements that pass funds from one outside government to another without giving indigenous communities ownership or control.
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/hydro-one-ontarios-privatization-plan-explained/article24743446/
Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne has unveiled a plan to privatize Hydro One, a major government-owned electricity agency.
If it goes through, it will be one of the largest privatizations of a government asset in a generation in Canada.
Hydro One is a Crown corporation (a government-owned company) that handles nearly all the transmission of electricity in Ontario, as well as local distribution to 1.4 million customers
WHY ARE THE LIBERALS PRIVATIZING HYDRO ONE?
Premier Kathleen Wynne wants to build $29-billion worth of new transit, roads and bridges over the next 10 years, and needs a way to pay for it.
The privatization plan was crafted in part by a panel led by Ed Clark, a former TD Bank CEO
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydro_One
As part of the partial privatization of Hydro One, the provincial government announced it would sell up to 15 million shares (2.5%) to the indigenous and Métis nations of Ontario for "their collective benefit".[40]
In January 2018 the Ontario government announced they had sold over 14 million shares of Hydro One to OFN Power Holdings, a partnership controlled by 129 First Nations around the province. The shares represent 2.4% of outstanding common shares, reducing the government's stake in the company to approximately 47.4%
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FNTC: Changes to Section 83 Financial Administration By-law Approval
by ahnationtalk on October 11, 2018
http://nationtalk.ca/story/fntc-changes-to-section-83-financial-administration-by-law-approval
Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) recently announced 10-year grant funding that would be made available to First Nations as early as April 1, 2019 if the First Nation provides a written request and meets eligibility requirements, which were co-developed with the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) and the First Nations Financial Management Board (FMB).
To be eligible for the 10-year grant, a First Nation must have in place a financial administration law (First Nations Fiscal Management Act) or by-law (Indian Act). If the First Nation chooses to pass a financial administration by-law, the bylaw must obtain Ministerial approval. The same standards for a financial administration law or by-law will apply.
The FNTC is currently solely responsible for providing advice to the Minister on the approval of all s. 83 Indian Act by-laws under the current Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC). However, given the new requirement, the FNTC is working to transfer the specific responsibility for financial administration by-laws to the FMB. The FMB would become responsible for setting standards and policies for all financial management bylaws, developing a sample by-law that fully complies with these standards, reviewing all financial administration by-laws submitted by First Nations, and recommending ministerial approval of these by-laws. FNTC will continue to support the policy, review and recommendation requirements for taxation under s.83 Indian Act.