KAMLOOPS, BRITISH COLUMBIA (November 24, 2006) – The Government of Canada today appointed C.T. (Manny) Jules as Chief Commissioner of the First Nations Tax Commission (FNTC).
As Chief Commissioner, Mr. Jules will be responsible for leading the establishment of the FNTC, which is one of the four institutions created as a result of the passage of the First Nations Fiscal and Statistical Management Act (FSMA). The FSMA received Royal Assent in March 2005. Mr. Jules will also serve as the Chief Executive Officer and will have supervision over, and direction of, the work and the staff of the Commission.
“Mr. Jules is a community leader and a pioneer when it comes to First Nation tax regimes ” said Jim Prentice, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and non-Status Indians. “His leadership and determination in the development of these institutions was invaluable. On behalf of Canada’s New Government, I wish to congratulate Mr Jules on his appointment.” The ten-member FNTC is a shared governance organization responsible for developing and regulating the First Nation property tax system. Each member must be committed to strengthening First Nation property tax and must possess the requisite corporate governance experience and abilities to enable the FNTC to fulfill its mandate.
“The First Nations Tax Commission will play a critical role in attracting public and private sector investment on reserve, and in improving the overall economic health of First Nations,” said Mr. Jules. “It is an honour to be asked to lead this Commission, and I look forward to building on the great work done by the Indian Taxation Advisory Board in support of taxing First Nations across Canada.”
Mr. Jules has the distinction of successfully leading two First Nation-led pieces of federal legislation: the 1988 amendment to the Indian Act, (Bill C-115), which gave communities the right to levy property taxes on designated lands, and the 2005 First Nations Fiscal and Statistical Management Act, (Bill C-20), which provides participating First Nations with a series of economic development tools.