Mr. Chair, many first nations have described the land management provisions in the Indian Act as a hurdle that prevents economic development. Our government strongly believes that first nations communities have a far greater ability to unlock the significant economic development potential of reserve lands when they are able to enact their own land management laws. This is why our government invested $30.3 million over five years in economic action plan 2015 to support the first nations land management regime.
Could the parliamentary secretary please describe how the First Nations Land Management Act has been a successful vehicle for economic development?