Mr. Chair, I was talking about a budget measure in 2014 of $1.25 billion, increasing annually at a rate of 4.5%, to ensure that we could increase the numeracy and literacy rates among first nation children on reserve, and he voted against it.
House of Commons photoLost his last election, in 2015, with 17% of the vote.
Business of Supply May 13th, 2015
Mr. Chair, I was talking about a budget measure in 2014 of $1.25 billion, increasing annually at a rate of 4.5%, to ensure that we could increase the numeracy and literacy rates among first nation children on reserve, and he voted against it.
Business of Supply May 13th, 2015
Mr. Chair, I cannot. However, if the member is so concerned about education for first nations students on reserve, it is funny that when last year's budget earmarked $1.2 billion for statutory funding that would have provided the children living in Kashechewan and everywhere else with the same level of funding that they were getting from the province, he voted against it.
Business of Supply May 13th, 2015
Mr. Chair, this is information that I do not have in front of me, but we could provide it to the hon. member.
Business of Supply May 13th, 2015
Mr. Chair, I want the record to indicate that the $137 million decrease, which is indeed in the estimates, reflects the sunset of the original $115 million provided in 2014-15, as well as $18.4 million, that was reprofiled from 2013-14 to 2014-15.
Business of Supply May 13th, 2015
Mr. Chair, there are no cuts in the estimates. What appears to be reduced spending by some $18 million, I believe, is because of targeted spending that is sunsetting at the end of March. The hon. member will recall that in economic action plan 2015, there is a commitment to invest another $200 million, which will allow us to bring that back to that program in the supplementary estimates.
Business of Supply May 13th, 2015
Mr. Chair, the amount will vary, depending on which school board we are talking about. Usually the way it is done is that an agreement is entered into between the first nation, the school board in question, and the department, and that would establish the cost.
Business of Supply May 13th, 2015
Mr. Chair, I do not have that figure, but I can undertake to assemble the different amounts that are provided for education in Ontario and give the member that information while, of course, looking at the total enrolment in Ontario. However, this is not information I have in front of me right now.
Business of Supply May 13th, 2015
Mr. Chair, in these estimates, close to $1.8 billion will be invested in education for first nations students on reserve and for post-secondary education. If the member wants to get a detailed breakdown of the amounts for Ontario, I am sure I could provide him with that information.
Business of Supply May 13th, 2015
Mr. Chair, I can assure the hon. member that the only discussions we are having with different stakeholders across the country in regard to child and family services are to improve the services that are being provided to these children. We had discussions with groups in British Columbia and, for that matter, all provinces in order to ensure that we have a system that is more accountable and transparent, and that brings about results.
Business of Supply May 13th, 2015
Mr. Chair, the number of first nations children on reserve who are estimated to be in care is a figure that, of course, I do not check everyday. What we do as a department is transfer funds to the agencies and to the provinces for the costs they incur.
When the member talks about an obligation, I will remind the hon. member that this is a policy matter. This is a policy decision to reimburse the provinces and to fund the agencies, but it is a—