Indigenous groups across Canada carrying millions in dollars of debt from negotiating treaty claims with Ottawa will soon have that debt erased. The federal government announced in its 2019 budget it will be forgiving loans to Indigenous groups who have taken on debt to negotiate comprehensive claims and treaties. Groups that have already repaid the government for such loans will get their money back, Ottawa says. Treaty Commission's Chief Commissioner Celeste Haldane.said in a statement that the group "has long advocated for the elimination of loans in treaty negotiations. He said freeing up this kind of debt will allow Indigenous groups to access more capital.

Source: CBC News March 19, 2019 23:25 UTC