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Territory and good neighbour relations

Consult the good neighbour relations document (PDF 129 Kb, in French only)

Compliance with laws

Before signing the final agreement, the Government of Québec will make sure that the powers of the Innu and Québec governments are harmonized to ensure peace and order. Certain steps will be taken to avoid, among other things, tax evasion, unfair competition and the possibility that some citizens might elude the laws in force.

Boundaries of the territories

The final agreement based on the agreement-in-principle would make it possible to create territories which, while they are situated in Québec, would become Innu territories. They would be known as “Innu Assi”.

The Innu Assi territories would be made up of the current Indian reserves, which would then cease to be federal territories, as well as additional land.

Here are the surface areas of the Innu Assi.

Betsiamites: 307 kilometres², including the 255 kilometres² of the current reserve.
Essipit: 48 kilometres², including the current reserve which is less than one kilometre².
Mashteuiatsh: 167 kilometres², including the 15 kilometres² of the current reserve.

IThe Innu governments will manage the resources on these territories.

The boundaries of the Innu Assi territories are not yet final. They may be modified if necessary between now and the signing of the final agreement. In this respect, the Government of Québec intends to negotiate in order to avoid, for example, a private property being divided into two parts: one in an Innu Assi territory and the other outside the territory.

Consult the map (PDF format, in French only)

Private property

Within the Innu Assi territories, there are a certain number of private homes, cottages and wooded lots.

The Government of Québec intends to establish clear rules with a view to entering into mutual agreements. In the event of a final agreement with the Innu, the owners concerned could thus maintain, relocate or opt for a buy-out of the property rights.

The Government of Québec intends to proceed in a similar manner with the residents of Pointe-Parent near Natashquan.

Characteristics of the Community of Nutashkuan

Unlike in the case of the other Innu communities, that of Nutashkuan is situated in a territory that is not urbanized. Consequently, a different formula has been chosen; it draws inspiration from the agreement reached with the Inuit of Labrador. The Innu Assi territory would be more vast here (about 2 500 kilometres²), but Québec would retain ownership over water and underground resources (for mining operations). However, Québec would give the Innu 25% of the mining royalties collected. A special agreement would also guarantee the residents of the neighbouring communities access to the territory for the purposes of recreation or gathering firewood.

Good neighbour relations

The agreement-in-principle stipulates that good neighbour relations will be negotiated to guarantee:

• the free circulation for everyone on public roads and waterways;
• the construction of public services and access to infrastructures;
• access for the purpose of public safety;
• the protection of wildlife habitats;
• the preservation of the quality of water;
• the management of environmental impacts.

Income tax and other taxes

The question of income tax and other taxes is often considered an irritant with respect to good neighbour relations between aboriginal and non-aboriginal communities. This situation is a consequence of the Federal Indian Act, which grants certain privileges to the aboriginal people, but which also deprives them of certain rights. The agreement-in-principle stipulates that the Innu could pay taxes and income tax to their government to fund the programs and services that it will offer them, based on a system harmonized with that of Québec. For the Government of Québec, the progressive implementation of such a system is an objective to be strived for.

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