The previous minister, Arlene Dunn, resigned from cabinet last week. Higgs has since chosen Natural Resources Minister Mike Holland to take over the portfolio.
Premier Blaine Higgs is doubling down on his stance that an Aboriginal title claim for roughly half of New Brunswick could impact properties owned by smaller landowners who are not named in the claim launched by the province's Wolastoqey nations.
The New Brunswick legislature in Fredericton. (Image: Brad Perry)
The New Brunswick government says it will not be renewing tax-sharing agreements with First Nation communities.
Premier Blaine Higgs made the announcement Tuesday, calling the existing agreements “unsustainable and unfair.”
The agreements allow First Nation communities to keep a percentage of the provincial tax revenues they collect on-reserve through the sale of tobacco, gasoline and other fuels.
Currently, the communities keep 95 per cent of the first $8 million in provincial tax revenues and 70 per cent on amounts above that.
Higgs said about $44 million will be refunded to First Nations this year and that number is projected to reach $75 million in 2031-32.
The New Brunswick legislature in Fredericton. (Image: Brad Perry)
The New Brunswick government says it will not be renewing tax-sharing agreements with First Nation communities.
Premier Blaine Higgs made the announcement Tuesday, calling the existing agreements “unsustainable and unfair.”
The agreements allow First Nation communities to keep a percentage of the provincial tax revenues they collect on-reserve through the sale of tobacco, gasoline and other fuels.
Currently, the communities keep 95 per cent of the first $8 million in provincial tax revenues and 70 per cent on amounts above that.
Higgs said about $44 million will be refunded to First Nations this year and that number is projected to reach $75 million in 2031-32.