Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee on May 31st, 2006

[Jim Prentice, Conservative, Calgary Centre-North, AB]

There was a single page that was tabled by the former Prime Minister in the closing moments of the first ministers meeting. It did not form part of a document that was on the table amongst the participants. It was not signed off by any of the premiers or by the aboriginal leaders. I know because I was there. I talked to some of the aboriginal leaders. They had never seen the numbers when the Prime Minister tabled them. Following that, the former Prime Minister issued a press release, and three days later we were into an election. That's the sum total of what the Kelowna accord consisted of. None of those moneys was ever budgeted by the Parliament of Canada, and no document was ever tabled in the House of Commons that related to any of those documents. They didn't form part of any of the budgets of the previous government.

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

Mr. Bruinooge, you still have about two minutes.

[Rod Bruinooge, Conservative, Winnipeg South, MB]

It's interesting to see what happens when the composition of parties, committee members, changes. I'll leave it at that.

Mr. Minister, you've spent many years in your career working on aboriginal issues, as have I. Although by no means even approaching your experience, I also have a real interest in this area. I think one of the things Canadians want to see--all Canadians, aboriginal Canadians--is real action on aboriginal issues. Over the last 13 years, I hate to point it out, but we haven't seen a lot done. I know we're going to have some real action. Perhaps you could continue to describe not only the things you have done in these last 100 days, but what you plan on doing in the next 100 days, the next hopefully 100 years. I'll just put it down to a couple of years.

[Jim Prentice, Conservative, Calgary Centre-North, AB]

Thank you.

There are days I feel 100 years old. You're a young man, and if I've accomplished more than you have, it's only because I have the disadvantage of being 20 years or 30 years older. I'm sure by the time your career is finished there won't be any question about that.

I have spent a large part of my life working with aboriginal Canadians. I felt throughout that time that, in particular, first nations south of 60 are hampered by the Indian Act and by living their lives basically confined by a statute that is seriously outdated for modern circumstances. As we have discussed today, it doesn't provide an education system or protective steps for child enforcement, for social services. There's no modern framework for housing. Even issues like whether a first nation can lease their land for commercial or industrial purposes are extraordinarily complicated, because the statute we're dealing with didn't contemplate shopping centres or oil sands plants or industrial facilities. The current world does.

I think there's an obligation on us, partisanship aside, as Canadians to move forward, and we have to do so working with aboriginal Canadians to create a government framework, a legislative framework, that's modern and that reflects current realities.

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

Thank you.

Mr. Lévesque, please.

[Yvon Lévesque, Bloc, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC]

Minister, can we come to an agreement this evening on a date for repealing the Indian Act?

Seriously though, with respect to housing, would you be amenable to having a committee look into the advisability of the department investing without further delay in housing, so as to avoid wasting money on substandard housing stock, to save money that the Justice Department is spending because housing is inadequate and to save money on health costs associated with tuberculosis in Nunavik and most likely in Nunavut as well and in all communities where overcrowded housing is an issue? In its quest to save money, perhaps the government could go one step further and invest in new housing to quickly resolve this problem. What do you think?

[Jim Prentice, Conservative, Calgary Centre-North, AB]

We have allocated over $400 million to this budget. We need to discuss funding and Aboriginal priorities with Mr. Ghislain Picard, Mr. Fontaine and other Aboriginal leaders. These discussions will probably take place in June and in September. New priorities will be identified in concert with the Aboriginal leadership. Housing will be a key topic of discussion with Mr. Picard, Mr. Fontaine and other leaders.

[Yvon Lévesque, Bloc, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC]

I was in Salluit last week. Children are roaming the streets at 4 o'clock in the morning because their parents are at home fighting. That's another important issue that needs to be addressed.

[Jim Prentice, Conservative, Calgary Centre-North, AB]

I agree with you. It's a very complex issue.

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

Thank you.

We've run out of time.

On behalf of the committee, I want to say thank you for your presence, Mr. Minister. We appreciated hearing your priorities for the department. Of course, this may be some of the challenge to this committee--to work with you and move those priorities forward.

Thank you to your staff for attending also.

[Jim Prentice, Conservative, Calgary Centre-North, AB]

Thank you very much.

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

We are adjourned.