Minister Freeland addresses First Nations Major Projects Coalition conference – April 23, 2024 [Video]

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland participates in a fireside chat in Toronto with Mark Podlasly (Nlaka’pamux), chief sustainability officer of the First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC), at the organization’s annual conference . They are introduced by Shannon Joseph, chair of Energy for a Secure Future. The minister highlights investments from the recent federal budget, including the new Indigenous loan guarantee program. The budget commits up to $5 billion in loan guarantees to help Indigenous communities invest in natural resource and energy projects.

Minister Freeland takes questions from the media at a news conference following her discussion. She is asked about the Indigenous loan guarantee program and the Canadian Medical Association’s concerns about capital gains tax changes proposed in the federal budget. The minister faces questions as well about efforts to prevent China from flooding the global market with low-cost nickel, lithium and other critical minerals.