Jean-Luc Blais has over 30 years of experience managing resources and negotiating agreements for First Nations as an engineer. He has held several senior positions within Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada, negotiating major settlements and implementing the James Bay Agreement. Blais has expertise in areas such as minerals management, economic development, policy development, and project management.

1. CURRICULUM VITAE
JEAN-LUC BLAIS, Eng. Tel: (613) 834-6125
1777 Windflower Way E-mail: blaisjl@sympatico.ca
Ottawa, Ontario Cell: (613) 601-6147
K1C 5Z2
EDUCATION:*
UNIVERSITY OF MONTREAL Bachelor in applied sciences 1974
(École Polytechnique) (Honours in geology and geophysics)
Engineering Degree 1974
*Specialized training: leadership, projects and human resources management,
finances for non-financial, and negotiations.
WORK EXPERIENCE:
Within Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC), I have gained a broad and in depth
knowledge and expertise in the management and protection of First Nation non-
renewable resources and rights, in the negotiations of local government budgets
(housing, infrastructures, other capital needs and related operations and maintenance
requirements), in claims and out-of-courts settlements, in the negotiations of bi-partite
and tri-partite agreements, in their implementation, in the interpretation and application
of acts and regulations, in the development, analysis and implementation of strategies
and, in the provision of “expert” advice to Senior Management, INAC Ministers, other
federal Cabinet ministers and to the Governor in Council on policies.
To acquire this experience, I had to establish and maintain contacts with leaders of First
Nations, mining and petroleum companies, consulting firms, entrepreneurs, universities,
provincial governments and of some of their agencies (i.e., Hydro-Quebec, Hydro-
Ontario) without omitting my colleagues in other federal departments and in central
agencies.
This experience built itself up through the years by mastering ways and means Indian
reserves have been created, the Indian Act, the Indian Oil & Gas Act, the Indian Mining
and Oil & Gas Regulations, the James-Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement (JBNQA),
the Northeastern Quebec Agreement (NEQA), the Cree-Naskapi Act (CNA), and related
court cases and court actions involving the Government of Canada (i.e., Guerin,
Sparow, Delgamuuk, Coon Come, etc.,). It was also gained through work at
headquarters, regional offices and in the field (Aboriginal Territory). A more detailed
description of this experience (through achievements) is found in the ANNEX.

2. SPECIFIC POSITIONS SINCE 1974
April 2004 to April 2007 (Special assignement!)
Specific responsibilities:
As INAC ‘‘Program Expert and Senior Negotiator’’ participate in the negotiations at the
Main table led by Mr. Raymond Chrétien, appointed in May 2004 Chief federal
Negotiator by Cabinet, to settle out-of-court the several billion dollars court actions filed
by the Cree of Northern Quebec regarding obligations of Canada under the JBNQA (1st
modern treaty!). The settlement would include payments for implementing federal
obligations by the Crees, transfer of federal programs, governance and an end to multi-
billion litigation. My other responsibilities were to cost Canada’s obligations and to lead
the “side” tables on Capital needs ($2.1B), health and environment.
April 1992 to April 2007
Chief Negotiator, James Bay and Northern Quebec Implementation Office.
Claims and Indian Government.
QUEBEC CITY, QUEBEC and (since August 1997) OTTAWA,ONTARIO.
Responsibilities:
Develop strategies, recommend the best solution to senior management and to the
Minister and, negotiate major out-of court agreements on the implementation of the
James-Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement, transfer of responsibilities and the
settlement of litigation from the Crees and Quebec on Canada’s obligations (i.e., land
regime and transfer, essential sanitation, community centres, fire protection ,
environment, justice, economic development, trappers associations, policing, health,
access to programs, education, electricity and access roads). Negotiate and implement
bipartite and tripartite agreements on specific issues Capital (i.e., housing and
infrastructures), operations and maintenance, electricity, roads and other local and
regional government needs. Implement the agreements concluded with the Inuit and the
Naskapi. Administer the Cree-Naskapi Act. Appointed Canada’s representative on the
James Bay Advisory Committee on Environment and on other committees.
May 1987 to April 1992
Senior Policy Manager.
Economic Development Sector.
OTTAWA, ONTARIO.
Responsibilities:
Develop strategies to facilitate and encourage the development of non-renewable
resources on First Nations lands taking into account the statutory and fiduciary
obligations of the Government of Canada and federal-provincial agreements. Establish
the position of the government of Canada respecting the ownership of resources on
Indian lands in the provinces and territories. Amend the Indian mining regulations.
Prepare discussion papers on INAC responsibility in the resources sector on Indian
lands. Represent INAC in the negotiations of federal-provincial agreements on regional
economic development and ensure access to the programs and the funding by First

3. Nations. Lead the transfer of responsibilities with respect to the identification of the
mineral potential to First Nations. Establish a national mineral aboriginal association.
September 1981 to May 1987
Director, Indian Minerals (East).
Economic Development and Lands, Revenues and Trust sectors.
TORONTO, ONTARIO and, (since 1985), OTTAWA, ONTARIO.
Responsibilities:
Be accountable for the sound management of mineral rights and resources and the
utilization and protection of these resources on First Nations and Inuit lands in the seven
(7) Eastern provinces with a staff of 12 and a budget of $500,000.00 (excluding
salaries). Administer the Indian Act and the Oil & Gas Act including derived regulations.
Issue permits and leases to mining and petroleum companies for the exploration and
development of the mineral potential of Indian reserves. Administer “Indian monies”
resulting from the surrender of non-renewable resources. Advise senior management
and the minister on issues.
November 1974 to September 1981
From Mineral Technician to Senior Geologist to Chief, Mining Division.
Lands and Trust sector.
OTTAWA/TORONTO, ONTARIO.
Responsibilities:
Plan, organize and conduct geotechnical studies on Aboriginal reserves. Manage the
staff and work of the Division to investigate the mineral resources potential of Aboriginal
lands in the seven (7) Eastern provinces. Prepare terms of reference and administer
the contracting-out process. Train Aboriginal in mineral exploration. Advise senior
management and Band councils on the mineral resources potential of Aboriginal lands.
PERSONAL ACTIVITIES:
Professional:
Member of the Order of Engineers of Quebec.
Member of the mining association of Quebec.
Delegate (Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC))
Delegate (Canadian Aboriginal Mineral Association (CAMA))
Sportive:
Golf, tennis, fishing, biking and walking.
Others:
Provided input in law publications (quoted by Richard Bartlett in 1986 and 1990)
on federal-provincial agreements and mineral rights.
Recipient of the commemorative medal for the 125th anniversary of the
confederation of Canada.
Recipient of the Deputy Minister pride and recognition award as a result of the
Out-of-Court settlement with the Crees of northern Quebec.

4. ANNEX

5. Human and financial resources management
Hired, trained, supervised and managed multi disciplinary and scientific staff.
Administered annual operating budgets as a responsibility centre manager.
Prepared work plans, operational plans, regional management plans and multi-years
plans.
Trained on-the-job Aboriginals in the mining sector (office and field).
Prepared terms of references and administered contracts of several hundred thousand
dollars.
Prepared and administered financial arrangements of several million dollars in the form
of contribution and grant.
Collected and administered revenues (millions) from exploration and development of
mineral resources from Aboriginal lands.
Relocated twice a work unit and staff (Ottawa-Toronto-Ottawa) and managed surplus
personnel.
Planned, organized and managed mineral exploration programs.
Directed and managed the work of experts (i.e., road, mining, environment, municipal
services, urban planning, fire protection and architecture) from several federal
departments and consulting firms.
Organized in partnership with Quebec, Hydro-Quebec, Cree, Inuit and McGill University
a 2-day symposium on 25 years of implementation of the first modern treaty, the James
Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement. Participated, as Canada representative, to the
publication of a follow-up book in French, English, Cree and Inuktitut languages.

6. Statutory and legislative management
Administered the Indian Act and the Indian Oil & Gas Act.
Administered the Cree-Naskapi Act.
Implemented the James-Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement.
Implemented the Northeastern Quebec Agreement.
Administered federal-provincial agreements on the creation of First Nation reserves.
Administered federal-provincial agreements on regional development.
Administered Indian Mining and Oil & Gas regulations.
Issued permits and leases to multi-national companies for exploration and exploitation of
mineral resources on First Nations lands.
Interpreted agreements, acts and regulations dealing with resources in Aboriginal
territory at the national level as well as legislation impacting various sectors in the
James-Bay area.
Administered band council resolutions.
Protected the interests of the Crown as well as those of Aboriginals through releases
and acknowledgement clauses during the negotiations of agreements with First Nations,
Inuit, provinces and provincial agencies.

7. Policy (elaboration, analysis and recommendation)
Prepared Memoranda to Cabinet to seek approval of negotiating mandates, special
authorities and settlement funds on sensitive, legal and complex issues.
Developed principles (as a result of Guerin and Sparrow) on the fiduciary obligations of
Canada in the fields of mineral resources and environment.
Developed and implemented a strategy aiming at providing First Nations with the
responsibility over defining the mineral potential of their lands.
Amended the Indian mining regulations per the federal regulatory process.
Established the position of the government of Canada regarding the status of Indian
lands and resources within each province.
Prepared “how-to” guides to facilitate and promote the development of non-renewable
resources on First Nations lands.
Developed a framework that lead, after analysis of the Crees and Quebec positions, to
the preparation of a Memorandum to Cabinet seeking a mandate to negotiate out-of-
court the implementation of the James-Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement.
Analyzed proposals from Aboriginal peoples and from Quebec on specific issues and
recommend an approach and a satisfactory level of funding.
Establish Canada priorities after the identification, analysis and description of the issues
related to the James-Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement.
Prepared documentation for the nomination of Commissioners by the Governor-in-
Council.
Discussed and prepared strategies for main and side tables of negotiations.
Prepared Treasury Board submissions and sought negotiating mandates from Cabinet.

8. Negotiation, mediation, consultation
Developed strategies to negotiate with provinces (B.C., Ontario, Quebec, N.B. and N.S.)
the ownership of non-renewable resources on Indian reserves.
Negotiated jobs, royalties and rentals with mining and petroleum companies in
exchange of rights to explore and develop.
Negotiated with the Crees (of Quebec) an adjustment to their capital budget ($12.5M
over 7 years) and the funding ($39.8M over 4 years) of emergency projects in health,
hygiene and safety in five communities. Negotiated two ($15M and $20M)
infrastructures agreements in addition to their yearly capital grant.
Negotiated new infrastructures and housing needs ($1.3B).
Negotiated transfer of INAC’s responsibility in Wemindji and Waskaganish for electricity
with Hydro-Québec.
Evaluated federal obligations toward the Crees and negotiations costs; recommended
appropriate level of funding for out-of-court settlements as a result of a $5B legal action.
Consulted private sector, aboriginals and provinces on a common approach to solve
legal, constitutional and technical issues.
Ensured that rights and interests of aboriginals are protected in the implementation of
acts and agreements governing their territory.
Negotiated “A-base” budgets (over $75M annually) for local governments.
Coordinated and negotiated federal and provincial activities and policies to ensure
access by Indian communities.
Negotiated with Quebec and the Waskaganish Cree Nation the construction costs
($45M) and maintenance ($.7M/year) of a 102Km access road.
Developed proposal to support the establishment of a national aboriginal mineral
association and negotiate the establishment of three Cree associations (Trappers,
Tourism and Arts&Crafts).
Negotiated a major Out-of-Court settlement ($1.4B) and other specific financial claims
with appropriate releases (Canada’s obligations, housing, lands, electricity, roads).
Consulted and sought support, advice and expertise from colleagues within the
department and from other federal departments and agencies.

9. Projects management and professional advice
Managed exploration programs to identify mineral resources on First Nations
lands across Canada.
Represented INAC and Kahnawake First Nation in court over a quarry lease and
save $7.5M.
In 1990, created and funded for 2 years a group of Aboriginals to initiate the
process aiming at establishing a National Aboriginal Mineral Association (NAMA).
Advised Aboriginals regarding access to federal programs and services and
presented papers.
Established an inventory of the mineral potential of the Indian reserves the seven
Eastern provinces and in the James Bay (of Quebec) category IA lands.
Managed various infrastructures projects ($1M- $100M) in Cree communities.
Managed the construction of a major access road ($45M) for which Canada
contributed $24M and Québec $21M and advise on required maintenance.
Represented INAC as ex-officio member on bipartite committees under federal-
provincial regional economic development subsidiary (mineral) agreements.
Represented Canada on tripartite and bipartite committees (i.e., energy supply,
airports, roads and marine infrastructures) to establish its position; represented
Canada on the James Bay Advisory Committee on the Environment, South of 55.
Chaired a Canada-Quebec task force on minerals and report on the outcome.
Advised on-the-spot senior management and the minister on issues related to
the implementation of the James-Bay Agreement and related costs.
Evaluated Cree First Nations capital investment needs (housing and
infrastructures) and advised on the establishment of Capital and Operations and
Maintenance 5-year plans.
Provided advice to Aboriginals in the development of their capacity and capability
in the technical and administrative fields.
Identified issues and managed funds and projects under various Government of
Canada initiatives and programs (i.e., housing, water, sewer, sites disposal,
environment and training).
Acted as INAC program expert in negotiating a $1.4B Out-of-Court settlement.