Natural Resources Committee on Oct. 9th, 2025

[The Chair, Liberal, Terry Duguid]

I call this meeting to order.

Good morning, everyone.

I'd like to start by acknowledging that we're meeting on the unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinabe nation.

Welcome to meeting number six of the Standing Committee on Natural Resources. Today's meeting is taking place in a hybrid format. We have some witnesses on the line, who we'll get to shortly. Pursuant to the Standing Orders, members are attending in person in the room and remotely using the Zoom application.

Before we continue, I would ask all in-person participants to consult the guidelines written on the cards on the table. These measures are in place to help prevent audio and feedback incidents and to protect the health and safety of all participants, including our amazing interpreters, whom we thank for doing such good work for us today. You'll notice a QR code on the card, which links to a short awareness video.

I would like to make a few comments for the benefit of the witnesses and members.

Please wait until I recognize you by name before speaking. For those participating by video conference, click on the microphone icon to activate your mic. Please mute yourself when you are not speaking. For those on Zoom, at the bottom of your screen, you can select the appropriate channel for interpretation: floor, English or French. For those in the room, you can use the earpiece to select the desired channel.

As a reminder, all comments should be addressed through the chair. For members in the room, if you wish to speak, please raise your hand. For members on Zoom, please use the “raise hand” function. The clerk and I will manage the speaking order as best we can, and we appreciate your patience and understanding in this regard.

Speaking of clerks, our regular clerk, Geneviève, is not with us today. We have the very able Cédric Taquet filling in. Thank you for joining us.

Thank you to our lone analyst today. We're reduced in ranks today, but not in quality at all.

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted on Thursday, September 18, 2025, the committee will resume its study of the development of critical minerals in Canada.

Before we start, I would like to tell members that the clerk has had a hard time booking witnesses, even if invitations were sent early and follow-ups were made. For this reason, we have only three witnesses for the full two hours.

Colleagues, I'm going to suggest taking a break around 10 or five minutes to. At the back of the room, we have lunch for the members.

For this reason, we have only three witnesses for the full two hours. If members agree, the clerk would like to add more meetings so that 36 witnesses appear. The motion says, “no less than 6 meetings”, which would be composed of 12 panels of three witnesses each, making 36 witnesses.

I'd like to get a sense from colleagues that this is in keeping with your wishes. I do not see any objections.

Go ahead, Mr. Tochor.

[Corey Tochor, Conservative, Saskatoon—University, SK]

I don't want to extend the length of this just yet. We've had a lot of time to find witnesses. This is an important study, and I think with what we already have for witnesses, we can craft a pretty good report as is.

There are other important studies. We would like to get to the Bloc study shortly. If there is a compromise, I'd like us to consider starting the next study as we wait for the remaining witnesses to come on board, versus having additional meetings with three witnesses for two hours. We'll be here all day and all session without getting this report done. That's our fear.

[The Chair, Liberal, Terry Duguid]

Thank you, Mr. Tochor, for that comment. Why don't I take that under advisement?

We will, regardless, adhere to the spirit of the motion that we all passed, which was “no less than 6 meetings”. The clerk has been working very hard and will continue to do so.

Monsieur Simard.

[Mario Simard, Bloc, Jonquière, QC]

Perhaps it should be calculated that, as part of—

[The Chair, Liberal, Terry Duguid]

I can't hear.

[An hon. member]

I'm in the same boat.

[The Chair, Liberal, Terry Duguid]

This system is a little different from what we're used to.

Okay. Here we go.

Go ahead, Monsieur Simard.

[Mario Simard, Bloc, Jonquière, QC]

At first glance, I'm not opposed to the idea of holding more meetings to hear from all the witnesses. However, we have to consider that we have planned a trip, during which we will also hear from witnesses. Their names may already be on the speaking list.

In my opinion, before we embark on new meetings, we should figure out how many witnesses we will be meeting with when we travel to Saguenay and Sudbury. That way, we will have a better general idea of the situation and be able to write a worthwhile report.

[The Chair, Liberal, Terry Duguid]

Is there anyone else on this issue?

Mr. McKinnon.

[Ron McKinnon, Liberal, Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam, BC]

I understand what Mr. Tochor is getting at. We want to get to these other studies. There is nothing to stop us from starting a new study before we complete this one. I think one of the problems with the first study in a new Parliament, for example, is the shortness of time to arrange for witnesses.

I certainly appreciate that we have a certain amount of flexibility. We want to do the travel and we want to do all that stuff, but I think we can be flexible. I think we can get everyone's witnesses in as we need to.

[The Chair, Liberal, Terry Duguid]

Perhaps you can leave it with me. There may be some options of adding an additional witness for each meeting to get to that 36 total, or, as Mr. Tochor has suggested, we start one study and have a dedicated meeting after we start that study. If colleagues are agreeable, leave this with me. We do have, when we come back, full panels for the next two sessions. Maybe we can add to those panels, beef up our witness list and get it done in the timetable we originally set.

Is everyone okay with that?

[An hon. member]

Yes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Terry Duguid]

Great. Thanks for that intervention and [Technical difficulty—Editor].

We're having a little trouble with the new system here.

I would now like to welcome our witness for the first panel. On Zoom, we have Sheldon Wuttunee, president and chief executive officer of the Saskatchewan First Nations Natural Resource Centre of Excellence.

Members, you will see that there is very much a first nations theme today.

Mr. Wuttunee, you have five minutes or less for your opening remarks. You have the floor.

[Sheldon Wuttunee, President and Chief Executive Officer, Saskatchewan First Nations Natural Resource Centre of Excellence]

Good morning to everybody in attendance today.

It's a real pleasure to be able to share some commentary and appear before you in regard to the future of Canada relative to first nations' assertion of rights and jurisdiction, which is always at the forefront of the work we do here at the centre.

We're an organization that is wholly owned by 74 first nations across Saskatchewan and the six treaty territories that underlie the province of Saskatchewan. I'm speaking to you from Treaty No. 6 territory.

In terms of the submission I forwarded yesterday, it's very important, I think, as we move through the session today, to understand that we're at a critical point in Canada with respect to first nations relationships. It's very important to understand as well that, from a first nations' perspective, we are spiritually and intrinsically tied to our lands and territories across Saskatchewan.

From the perspective of my work and our work here at the centre, we have a board of chiefs appointed from each of the tribal councils across Saskatchewan representative of the 74 first nations.

When we look at the historical relationship between Canada and first nations or the Crown and first nations and at the consideration of inherent rights as they relate to treaty rights and as that relates to section 35 in the Constitution, we're on a journey in Canada to determine the best path forward in respect of natural resource development in terms of critical minerals and global and domestic demands for critical minerals.

When it comes to the opportunities ahead of us, I think that Canada has a profound opportunity to recognize first nations not as participants and not as shareholders but as rightful partners and rights holders. Also, with the great work that's been done across Saskatchewan by our first nations in establishing local governance systems and in establishing economic development corporations, they've had the foresight as well to consider how to become involved in shaping the country's resource and economic future.

As we move forward through our conversation today, I'll be able to share a bit more with respect to inherent and treaty rights but also some of the work that has been done and is ongoing in terms of trade and diplomacy right across North America.

We have first nations that have high aspirations when it comes to the development of lands and resources. As well, of course, we want to ensure that our lands, territories and waters are protected for future generations with respect to traditional and cultural ways of life. We also recognize the great opportunities before us in terms of equity opportunities within some of the major projects, within supply chain and procurement and within workforce development.

The question is this: How do we meaningfully participate as first nations within these sectors—the critical minerals sector and, of course, the energy sector with respect to new nuclear? These are very important components of the work that we do here at the centre. I'd be very happy to share more throughout the morning.

One of the key points that we are taught by our elders and past leadership...and I had the opportunity to serve as chief of my first nation from 2006 to 2010, Red Pheasant Cree Nation. One aspect in teachings that has been passed down is that, through treaty, we didn't cede or surrender our resources here within our treaty lands. As we look at opportunities that lie in front of us, the notions of resource revenue sharing and royalty sharing are all concepts and components that we discuss quite a bit at our meetings and in our interactions with our first nations leadership.

To my earlier point, with some of the opportunities that we have domestically and globally, I think Canada has some great opportunities today to reshape the future in terms of positive capacity building and collaborative relationships with first nations, individually and collectively.

I will leave my comments there for now. I'll certainly share much more throughout the morning.

It's a great pleasure to be here and I'm looking forward to the discussion, the questions and the conversation as we move forward through the morning.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Terry Duguid]

Thank you, Mr. Wuttunee. I know members around the table will have some questions for you.

We'll start with Mr. Tochor.

[Corey Tochor, Conservative, Saskatoon—University, SK]

Mr. Wuttunee, thank you for appearing virtually at the committee today. More importantly, thank you for being a leader back in our home province of Saskatchewan.

Could you give the committee more insight on uranium's importance as a critical mineral?

[Sheldon Wuttunee]

In terms of uranium, a lot of interaction and work have been done in the north with respect to Cameco, Orano and now NexGen with the Rook I. In relation to supply chain and workforce opportunities in the north, those relationships have developed over the course of a number of years, which has provided some positive outcomes for nations and individuals in the north.

One thing we're keeping our eyes on, as first nations more collectively across the province, is that when it comes to the potential deployment of small modular reactors and microreactors as we move forward in the energy transition, if you will, we gain a greater understanding of the importance of uranium and the fuel enrichment that occurs elsewhere and finds its way back here to fuel those types of reactors.

As first nations in Saskatchewan, with our organization here, alongside our leadership and our technicians, the path forward is to ensure that we're bringing on adequate capacity to fully understand and make fully informed decisions when it comes to small modular reactor deployment here in the province. Like anywhere, I think across the globe there are mixed reactions when it comes to nuclear, based on historical experience and past understanding.

Some of the role and responsibility we have here at the centre—I'll speak for myself specifically—is that we take on that role to help educate and build capacity for our first nations leadership and our first nations communities. With respect to that, in terms of uranium—

[Corey Tochor, Conservative, Saskatoon—University, SK]

I will get to the SMRs and power generation in later rounds, but I'm really interested for you to share, and for committee members to know, what chemical has been such a success in our province in economic reconciliation. It is the largest private sector employer of indigenous people in Canada.

Could you explain to the committee a bit more about how it has been so successful? Can you also branch into what NexGen and Rook I mean and how big a project that is? It seems to be a little stalled because of red tape.

Comment on that journey, if you can, and then we'll get into power generation later on.

[Sheldon Wuttunee]

Obviously, just to your point, Cameco has done a lot of work in the north. As I mentioned, it has been a big benefit to many of the nations.

I will say that in some of my travels to the north.... With regard to workforce development, as we look at it from a post-secondary perspective, I think there are opportunities there. In many of my conversations with folks from Cameco and first nations in the north, I have shared what is missing, and it is that there needs to be increased investment in on-reserve education.

If we want to drill down to some of those concepts that we speak about, in my experience, I think we're going to be in trouble over the next 10 to 20 years with respect to the labour force and with respect to workforce development as it relates to uranium and other critical minerals. There's such high competition for tradespeople and others of the like. When we're looking at those opportunities for temporary foreign workers and those types of things, that all plays into this conversation.

While there have been positive strides that have had great impact in the north, when we're looking to the future, there's a great deal of work that needs to be done in understanding the lack of opportunity for first nations youth on reserve.

[Corey Tochor, Conservative, Saskatoon—University, SK]

It is so crucial to get both STEM and increased support for SIIT in our province. The shortages are coming. The opportunity to move on it is now.

You brought up temporary foreign workers. We've made a stance that we would like that program wound down. Would you support that position then—so that we could give opportunities to Canadians and indigenous people?

[Sheldon Wuttunee]

What I would definitely support is increased investment in on-reserve education to build up our youth. In my travels and in my experiences, I haven't heard of any solid plan. I haven't come across any solid plan where industry or respective levels of government have taken a keen or specific focus on how we're going to alleviate that strain in terms of a lack of educational resources on reserve.

[The Chair, Liberal, Terry Duguid]

Thank you, Mr. Tochor and Mr. Wuttunee.

We're going to move on to MP McKinnon and then MP Simard.

Mr. McKinnon.

[Ron McKinnon, Liberal, Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam, BC]

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Wuttunee, for being here and for participating in our study.

As you obviously know and as we are learning, the importance of consultation with indigenous groups has grown over the years. It is still far below what it probably needs to be. I wonder if you could advise us as to what we need to do in order to do it better, to make sure that indigenous groups are properly consulted and properly able to participate in the various programs that we are considering.

[Sheldon Wuttunee]

Number one, early meaningful engagement is a term we utilize quite often, and it's so important because, oftentimes, what happens is that the engagement or consultation occurs after there is much deliberation and planning on behalf of the proponent and on behalf of the respective levels of government, those being the province, potentially the municipality and also the federal government. We come in a bit late and, obviously, that relationship starts off on the wrong foot.

I think another important point is that there needs to be appropriate capacity and funding provided to first nations to meaningfully understand what a project is and how it can potentially impact our rights, those being inherent rights and treaty rights as well.

When you think about it as a first nation leader, as a chief council technician on a first nation, leadership is dealing with many different things during a day, week or month, so when we're looking at major projects that may impact lands or territories, nations don't often have the capacity to be able to respond to duty to consult trigger letters or to better understand from a scientific or technical perspective what the project is and how it's going to impact them. For our situation here in Saskatchewan, that's precisely why we developed and implemented the centre of excellence that I run—to be able to be there as a capacity organization for first nations.

When it comes to aspects of consultation, I think it's extremely important that we don't leave out accommodation as well and what that means to the nation. If we dig deeper, I firmly believe, after the many discussions we've had with elders and leadership over a number of years, that consultation mechanisms need to be developed by the first nations themselves. When it's an imposed consultative process, whether it's by the province or the federal government, again, it becomes very problematic because our interpretation of rights may differ and vary from those interpretations of the respective levels of government as well—the rural municipality, the province and the federal government.

Consultation is an extremely important component when it comes to the development of critical minerals and when it comes to the development of major projects. We cannot all see the future, but we need to prepare as best we can. I'm sure it's been heard many times by many of the members around the table that first nations are here to stay. We have reserves. These are our treaty and traditional territories, and we're not going anywhere. As we look at consultation and further down the road to accommodation, what does the journey look like in between? We need to balance the socio-economic benefits of a potential project against the potential adverse impacts these projects may have to lands and waters, and also to practising our inherent and treaty rights as first nations peoples. Again, those understandings and interpretations may differ from those perspectives of the provincial and federal governments.

[Ron McKinnon, Liberal, Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam, BC]

I'm going to cut you off right there.

I have a minute left, so I wanted to drill down a little bit into your observation that we need to have more investment into on-reserve education. Are we talking about better primary education, high school or technical levels? Once that is done, do you think that will help to inform the population regarding potential developments and how to interpret them?