What the parties are promising Indigenous voters in the federal election

As the federal election campaign enters its last week, the major parties have released their platforms.

Here's what the Liberals, Conservatives and New Democratic Party are promising Indigenous voters. 

Infrastructure and business  

The Conservative Party's platform is focused on "economic reconciliation," which it says would allow "companies to cede some federal tax room so First Nations communities will no longer need to send all their revenues to Ottawa and then ask for it back, enabling them to take back control of their resources and money." 

The platform includes a Canadian Indigenous Opportunities Corporation, which it says will allow Indigenous people to access equity ownership in resource projects.  

The party also promises to introduce a First Nations Fiscal Management Act, that it says will establish a permanent stream of infrastructure funding to communities. 

The Liberal Party's platform includes a focus on working "with all orders of government and Indigenous Peoples on critical infrastructure that connects communities." 

Included in this is a promise to invest $5 billion in a Trade Diversification Corridors Fund, which would develop ports, railways, airports, highways, and a plan to expand Canada's east-west electricity grid, which the party says would include participation of Indigenous partners. 

The NDP is promising to "expand economic opportunities in Indigenous communities" by providing dedicated regional economic support and creating a Northern Infrastructure Fund.

Arctic sovereignty

The Liberal Party is promising more ports, highways, railways and energy infrastructure in the Arctic, and to "work closely with Arctic and Northern Indigenous leadership as partners, in defence and security investments that respect their rights, incorporate traditional knowledge, and ensure community priorities are reflected." 

The Conservative Party says it plans to "unlock" Arctic ports and approve oil exports from Canada's Arctic ports. Included in this plan is a proposal to extend the shipping season in Churchill, Man.

The NDP promises to "respect Inuit self-determination, co-developing the Arctic Policy Framework and addressing the massive infrastructure deficit in Northern communities."

Drinking water

Bill C-61, the First Nations Clean Water Act, legislation that would set drinking water standards on reserves, did not make it beyond third reading in the House of Commons before Parliament was prorogued. 

The Liberal Party promises to "immediately introduce and pass legislation affirming that First Nations have a human right to clean drinking water." 

The NDP says it plans to end all long-term boil water advisories on First Nations by investing in "clean water infrastructure and support Indigenous-led water management training programs." 

There is no mention of water legislation or lifting boil-water advisories in the Conservative Party's platform, but party leader Pierre Poilievre told the Assembly of First Nations on Tuesday that a Conservative government would introduce a new bill to provide First Nations with clean water, recognizing this is a legal obligation following a Federal Court-approved class-action settlement.

UNDRIP

The previous Liberal government passed a bill to harmonize Canada's laws with the United Nations on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP). The Liberal Party's platform promises to implement the legislation's action plan. 

This promise also appears in the NDP plan, but with the promise to "replace mere consultation with a standard of free, prior and informed consent, including for all decisions affecting constitutionally protected land rights, like energy project reviews." 

The Conservatives do not mention UNDRIP in their platform.