Mohawk Council of Kahnawake mulls over imposing tolls on roads
The Mohawk Council of Kahnawake, located near Montreal, Canada, has announced plans to impose tolls on roads traversing its territory as a direct response to significant federal budget cuts. These cuts, under Canada's Bill C-5, mandate a 15% reduction across federal departments, including Indigenous Services Canada (ISC).
Grand Chief Cody Diabo, the head of the Mohawk Council, has strongly condemned these cuts as a form of "racialized austerity" that disproportionately harms Indigenous communities by slashing funding for essential services such as health care, education, infrastructure, and community development. The Council argues that while provincial services remain protected, Indigenous programs face severe reductions, violating constitutional rights and undermining commitments to reconciliation and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
The proposed toll routes include highways 138 and 132, two major arteries used by those traveling to Montreal and the South Shore. The tolls aim to recover lost revenues due to the federal cuts and sustain vital services for the Kahnawake Mohawk community.
Diabo has accused the Canadian government of systematically dismantling Indigenous communities through budget cuts. He has compared the approach of Prime Minister Mark Carney's government to that of his Liberal predecessor, Justin Trudeau, stating that promises made in national forums are not always kept.
Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne has asked several ministers to reduce program spending by 7.5% next spring, 10% the following year, and 15% in 2028-2029. The Mohawk Council of Kahnawake is calling on the Liberal government to cancel the budget cuts, which they believe could compromise health, education, and infrastructure programs, among others.
Diabo has suggested a face-to-face meeting with federal government members as a potential first step in persuading them to reconsider the toll issue. He has asserted that his community is "very determined about what needs to happen."
The Mohawk Council of Kahnawake is also opposing the Canada Unity Act, which gives Ottawa the power to accelerate the adoption of projects it considers to be of national interest. Diabo believes that Prime Minister Mark Carney should have mentioned the cuts during summer meetings with Indigenous leaders about Bill C-5.
If implemented, tolls could be around $4.60, similar to the nearby Highway 30. The tolls could exacerbate inequalities in housing, health care, education, public safety, and more, according to the Council.
[1] CBC News. (2022, May 12). Mohawk Council of Kahnawake to impose tolls on roads to offset federal budget cuts. Retrieved from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/mohawk-council-kahnawake-tolls-federal-budget-cuts-1.6465198
[2] Diabo, C. (2022, May 12). Statement on the Federal Budget 2022-23. Retrieved from https://mohawkcouncil.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Budget-22-23-Statement-from-Grand-Chief-Cody-Diabo.pdf
The Mohawk Council of Kahnawake's proposal to impose tolls on roads such as highways 138 and 132 could be a politically charged response to Canada's Bill C-5, as the Council accuses the federal government of implementing a "racialized austerity" policy that disproportionately impacts Indigenous communities. The Council's call to cancel the budget cuts and a potential meeting with federal government members highlight the ongoing tension between Indigenous policy and legislation and the general news landscape, especially concerning war-and-conflicts and politics in Canada.
