National Benefits-Sharing Framework

What is a National Benefits-Sharing Framework?

As part of its commitment to advancing economic reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples across Canada, Natural Resources Canada is developing a National Benefits-Sharing Framework (NBSF) to ensure that First Nations and Métis Nation communities directly benefit from natural resource projects in or near their territories, and that Inuit communities benefit from natural resource projects in Inuit Nunangat. The NBSF aims to advance economic reconciliation by identifying opportunities to improve the quality and consistency of benefits that Indigenous communities derive from natural resource projects.

This framework will support the Government of Canada’s commitment to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). It will be underpinned by the recognition of rights, respect, cooperation, and partnership, and will advance Indigenous Peoples’ participation, ownership, and decision-making in natural resource projects and the clean energy transition.

Framework origins

In 2021, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) was directed in his mandate letter to develop a NBSF as part of economic reconciliation efforts in the natural resource sector. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (UN Declaration Act) Action Plan commits the federal government to recognize and uphold the rights of Indigenous Peoples and ensure there is effective and meaningful participation of Indigenous peoples in decisions that affect them, their communities, and their territories. One of the Action Plan’s commitments (Measure 33 in the Shared Priorities chapter) is to increase the economic participation of Indigenous peoples and their communities in natural resource development. It is in the context of these commitments that NRCan is developing the NBSF.