Mr. C.T. (Manny) Jules, Chief Commission, First Nations Tax Commission

Mr. C.T. (Manny) Jules is a member of the Kamloops Indian Band who has dedicated his life to the betterment of First Nations. He first became a member of the Council in 1974 at age 22. He continued in that position until 1984 when he was elected by acclamation to the Office of Chief. After 16 years in office, Mr. Jules retired as Chief in December of 2000 to devote his full attention to leading the drive to establish the First Nations Fiscal Institutions. All of the initiatives undertaken by Manny Jules have been based upon his desire to enhance the well being of the people of his home community. Mr. Jules spent several years organizing and leading a national lobby effort by First Nations and was the driving force behind the passage by Parliament of Bill C-115 in 1988. Bill C-115, stands as the only First Nation-led amendment to the Indian Act to date. This Bill, commonly known as “the Kamloops Amendment,” allowed First Nations to clarify their tax authority jurisdiction over reserve land and expanded tax authority granted to First Nations thereby creating greater opportunities for economic development.

The Indian Taxation Advisory Board (the Board) was created in 1989 to provide federal, provincial, municipal and First Nation governments with the unique administrative framework necessary to deal with the implementation of the authority for First Nations to tax real property on reserve. Mr. Jules was appointed as its first Chairman, and was twice reappointed. The Board was the only First Nation-led administrative body to be directly involved in the exercise of the Minister’s decision-making powers under the Indian Act. Mr. Jules resigned as ITAB Chairman in 2003 to focus on leading the First Nations Fiscal and Statistical Management Act. The Act received Royal Assent in March 2005.

In 2006, Mr. Jules was named Chief Commissioner of the First Nations Tax Commission, the successor to the Indian Taxation Advisory Board. Mr. Jules will lead one of the four First Nation institutions created through the First Nations Fiscal and Statistical Management Act (FSMA). The institutions are designed to provide First Nations with the practical tools available to other levels of government for modern fiscal management. These institutions will enable First Nations that choose to use their services to participate more actively in the Canadian economy. The First Nations Tax Commission will support First Nations property tax regimes and ensure they are administratively efficient and harmonized with the rest of the country.

Other initiatives Manny Jules has been involved in include: BC First Nation Language Program; the Project Pride Task Force; BC Heritage Society; and Secwepemc Cultural Education Society. Mr. Jules received a Fine Arts Diploma from Cariboo College in Kamloops, BC. He has also received an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from the University of British Columbia.

<< Back