Debates of May 9th, 2013

Indian Affairs and Northern Development—Main Estimates, 2013–14

[Bernard Valcourt, Conservative, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Mr. Chair, emergency preparedness for first nations is a serious concern of the department. That is why I was recently in western Canada where I visited other communities that were affected by the 2011 flood. I had meetings with the leadership of the first nations where we discussed emergency preparedness.

As a matter of fact, I will meet with the minister of Saskatchewan in the next few weeks to ensure that emergency preparedness is effectively implemented on first nations not only in Saskatchewan but throughout all of western Canada.

[Jean Crowder, NDP, Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC]

Mr. Chair, has a performance measurement strategy been prepared for the emergency measures assistance program of the department?

[Bernard Valcourt, Conservative, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Mr. Chair, at all times the department monitors the activities that it carries. We want to make sure that the taxpayer dollars that we invest in whatever program are spent in the best interests of taxpayers. Of course, emergency preparedness, just like any other program, is delivered with this principle.

[Some hon. members]

Time.

[Jean Crowder, NDP, Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC]

Mr. Chair, could the minister please indicate where in the estimates the additional funding required by first nations to implement all aspects of Bill C-27 is?

[Bernard Valcourt, Conservative, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Mr. Chair, if the member looks carefully throughout the estimates she will not find it because it does not result in increased costs for first nations.

I want to remind the member that the first nations had to produce the consolidated financial statements before.

[An hon. member]

Time.

[Robert Chisholm, NDP, Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS]

Answer the question. Answer the question.

[Jean Crowder, NDP, Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC]

Mr. Chair, since there is clearly no money to implement Bill C-27, why did the government change the most recent contribution agreements to tie the implementation of Bill C-27 to the funding agreements?

[Bernard Valcourt, Conservative, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Mr. Chair, it is simply so that such agreements conform to the law as it stands now.

[Jean Crowder, NDP, Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC]

Mr. Chair, is the department demanding that all first nations send letters stating that they did not sign this year's contribution agreements under duress?

[Bernard Valcourt, Conservative, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Mr. Chair, the fact of the matter is that indeed some first nations were taken aback by the short period of time within which they received the funding agreement this year.

Upon my arrival, I instructed officials to make sure that next year these funding agreements are provided to first nations with a longer period of time so that they may consider those. That is what will happen.

[An hon. member]

Ten seconds.

[Greg Rickford, Conservative, Kenora, ON]

Mr. Chair, on a point of order. As you have said from the outset, if we are to have a thoughtful discussion and debate this evening there are a couple of things we would do.

First, we would conduct ourselves in a manner that is consistent with the rules of the standing committee.

Second, with respect to time allocation, we were to leave it in your very capable hands to decide when. We do not need the chirping stopwatches we are hearing across the way interrupting questions and responses.

[The Chair, NDP, Joe Comartin]

That was more of a speech than a point of order. We shall go back to the process. The hon. member for Nanaimo—Cowichan.

[Jean Crowder, NDP, Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC]

Mr. Chair, will the minister announce a joint process with first nations to develop next year's contribution agreements?

[Bernard Valcourt, Conservative, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Mr. Chair, what we will do, and what we have undertaken to do, with first nations concerning the next round of funding agreements is to provide them long in advance so that they may have proper time to consider those.

[Jean Crowder, NDP, Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC]

Mr. Chair, how much time do I have left?

[The Chair, NDP, Joe Comartin]

Slightly less than six minutes.

[Jean Crowder, NDP, Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC]

Mr. Chair, how many specific claims claimants are still waiting to hear if the government will accept their claim for negotiation?

[Bernard Valcourt, Conservative, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Mr. Chair, I thought she was going to congratulate the government on the speed with which we have been able to clean the bundle of claims that had not been addressed. In 2012, we have, as a result of the Justice at Last policy implemented by this government, been able to solve I think over 97 special claims, at a cost of some $1 billion. Not only does it settle a wrong for these first nations communities but it allows these communities to pursue economic development--

[The Chair, NDP, Joe Comartin]

The hon. member for Nanaimo—Cowichan.

[Jean Crowder, NDP, Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC]

Mr. Chair, that actually was not the question.

My next question is, is the Kelly Lake Cree Nation claim one of the claims the government is still deciding on?

[Bernard Valcourt, Conservative, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Mr. Chair, I did not hear the question.

[The Chair, NDP, Joe Comartin]

Would the hon. member repeat the question, please.