Revenue-sharing agreements signed with Wolastoqey communities

Press Release

September 25, 2025

FREDERICTON  – The six chiefs of the Wolastoqey Nation and the provincial government have signed revenue-sharing agreements on the Wolastoqey homeland designed to benefit all New Brunswickers and honour the strength of First Nations communities.

Premier Susan Holt said New Brunswick is setting new benchmarks for partnership, economic collaboration and reconciliation as a result of respectful negotiations based on a government-to-government model.

“We are proud to have collaborated with chiefs on these agreements, which benefit Wolastoqey communities and grow shared prosperity for all New Brunswickers,” said Holt. “Our province flourishes when we work together. We are committed to building relationships between First Nations and our government, and we hope these agreements become an example for all provinces in Canada in our national efforts toward reconciliation, equity and right relations.”

The agreements allow for the sharing of tax revenue from tobacco, gas and motive fuel, and the provincial portion of harmonized sales tax generated by businesses within First Nations reserve lands based on a sliding scale:

• Tax revenue below $10 million: 95 per cent for communities and five per cent for the provincial government.
• Tax revenue of $10 million or higher, but below $16 million: 70 per cent for communities and 30 per cent for the provincial government.
• Tax revenue above $16 million: 50 per cent each for communities and the provincial government.

This approach is meant to ensure that tax revenues stay in the local community to support priorities such as housing, education, health care and economic development. The agreements empower First Nation communities with greater autonomy to address local needs while fostering stronger relationships with the provincial government.

Indigenous Affairs Minister Keith Chiasson said negotiating these agreements took courage, humility, wisdom, strength and a willingness to have hard conversations on both sides.

“I am grateful to every chief who trusted us to sit at the negotiating table and figure out a way forward,” said Chiasson. “Woliwon for demonstrating true partnership in action and in word. The legacy of these agreements will be in the growth, collaboration and collective prosperity of First Nations communities and the province of New Brunswick.”

Matawaskiye (Madawaska Maliseet) First Nation Chief Patricia Bernard said First Nations communities are strong, resourceful and resilient.

“Since the first agreements signed between the Province of New Brunswick and First Nations in the 1990s, revenue sharing has allowed us to have autonomous funding for essential services,” said Bernard. “We have felt the impact of the absence of this revenue over the past four years. This is good news for our communities and all New Brunswickers.”

“Our elders talk about making decisions in the interests of the generations that came before and those that will follow us in the future,” said Wotstak (Woodstock) First Nation Chief Tim Paul. “Our communities will benefit economically from these agreements with crucial revenue to better support necessities like housing and education for future generations. They also move away from a paternalistic, top-down relationship. Government-to-government respect is founded in dignity and equity, and it is the way forward.”

The six Wolastoqey communities of Sitansisk (Saint Mary’s), Neqotkuk (Tobique), Bilijk (Kingsclear), Matawaskiye (Madawaska Maliseet), Welamukotuk (Oromocto) and Wotstak (Woodstock) signed the agreements today.

Media Contact(s)

Mary-Anne Hurley-Corbyn, communications, Department of Indigenous Affairs, 506-429-2624, mary-anne.hurley-corbyn@gnb.ca.

Erin Brandt Filliter, Wolastoqey Nation in New Brunswick, media@wolastoqey.ca.

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