Bernard Valcourt

[Family Homes on Reserves and Matrimonial Interests or Rights Act, June 4th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, the fact of the matter is that this issue has been before this Parliament for many years now. My colleague referred to the majority government. All those families living on reserve in Canada will thank Canadians for having elected a majority government.

This is the fourth iteration of this bill before Parliament. The first bill was introduced as Bill C-47 on March 4, 2008, in a minority Parliament and was debated at second reading and referred to committee. It died on the order paper on September 7, 2008. In all of those months, when the opposition and everybody had a chance to debate the bill, it did not happen.

I will continue with the next question, but the member is going to get the same answer as to why it is time we acted.

[Questions on the Order Paper, June 3rd, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, based on an assessment of historical documents going back into the 1940s, the total royalties paid to the Government of Canada from all of the mines located on the Giant claim block, including Giant, Lolor and Supercrest, is approximately $4 million, based on the 4%-5% royalties in effect at the time.

[Aboriginal Affairs, June 3rd, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, there are in fact senior oversight committees that have been instituted following the January 11 meeting. These oversight committees are meeting regularly. They are making progress, and I hope that in due course we can make them public.

[Aboriginal Affairs, June 3rd, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, the fact is, we are following up with first nations, Metis and Inuit all across this country. In recent months, I have been travelling across the country to hear many aboriginal leaders, Metis leaders, Inuit leaders. We are making progress and we will continue in the quest for reconciliation in Canada.

[Aboriginal Affairs, May 30th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier this week on the same topic, we take Canadians' right to privacy very seriously. I would like to make clear to the House and to all Canadians that all of the Privacy Commissioner's recommendations have been implemented by my department.

[Aboriginal Affairs, May 29th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, if the member is preoccupied with the kids living on reserve in this country, she should also be preoccupied with all of the families on reserve that are deprived of basic rights, which we in the House are trying to give them. I am talking about the matrimonial property legislation, which will come for third reading soon. I hope she votes on the right side of it if she really cares about native families.

[Aboriginal Affairs, May 29th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member's comment is completely untrue.

Yesterday he came to my office to give me a letter from the company in question requesting a meeting. Today, he has the gall to stand up and accuse me of refusing to meet with the Makivik Corporation.

I will continue to do what I have been doing since I was sworn in, namely to meet with as many aboriginal communities as I can, with aboriginal chiefs and youth throughout the country. I will continue doing so according to my schedule, not his.

[Aboriginal Affairs, May 28th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, first of all, the premise of her question is totally false. The commissioner's report never referred to the Conservatives.

The fact of the matter is that we take Canadians' right to privacy very seriously. Most of the recommendations, if not all, were already being implemented. We shall fully implement the recommendations of the commissioner.

[Aboriginal Affairs, May 23rd, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, notwithstanding the rhetoric of the NDP, which opposed a simple bill like Bill S-2 to give rights to children and women on reserves, its members stand to complain about the process that is before the court.

We have disclosed some 120,000 pages. There are more to come. It has chosen to go before the commission. We will follow the rules imposed upon us to give the documents that we have and that are relevant to the case.

[Aboriginal Affairs, May 10th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, it is obvious that the member does not know what she is talking about. If she looked at the investments that are being made, it is obvious that this government is concerned about the health and safety of aboriginal children on reserve and in urban settings. That is why we have a host of programs, in partnership with first nations. We have programs in place to improve the situation and hopefully eliminate the gap between aboriginal and non-aboriginal kids.