Aboriginal Affairs  Mr. Speaker, Canadians deserve better than an opposition that votes against every single measure we take to improve the lives of first nations living on reserve. Since taking office, we have given women living on reserve the same matrimonial property rights as other Canadians. We have brought in increased transparency and accountability for first nations communities for those members.

Business of Supply  Mr. Chair, I feel short-changed. I have only been here for three hours and fifty-five minutes. I appreciate the opportunity to speak briefly this evening about first nations governance and in particular to highlight the recent significant initiatives our government has undertaken to strengthen governance in first nations communities.

Business of Supply  Mr. Chair, the member is exactly right. Our government works closely with willing partners to provide first nations and Inuit students with a quality education and, ultimately, the opportunity to acquire the skills needed to enter the labour market and be full participants in a strong, prosperous Canadian economy.

Business of Supply  Mr. Chair, our government continues to believe that first nations students deserve access to the same quality of education as all other students. Since we were elected, we have invested roughly $10 billion to support elementary and secondary education on reserve. The first nations control of first nations education act represented a real and concerted effort to improve education outcomes for first nations youth on reserve.

Business of Supply  Mr. Chair, I would like to thank the hon. member for his contribution to the aboriginal affairs committee. He is the newest elected member on our committee, the new guy, but he certainly jumped in with both feet and has made a valuable contribution already. I was so pleased to be on the Siksika First Nation with him and the chief and council to announce $8.9 million in federal funds toward the new Crowfoot School, which will provide space for 300 students from kindergarten to grade 6.

Business of Supply  Mr. Chair, I appreciate the hon. member sharing his experience, which is why our government is taking action in an unprecedented way. From April 2006 to March 2014, the Government of Canada has invested approximately $3 billion to support first nations communities in managing their waste water and water infrastructure.

Business of Supply  Mr. Chair, to support water and waste water services in first nations communities, our government has developed a comprehensive long-term strategic approach based on enhanced capacity building and operator training, something the member talked about, enforceable standards and protocols, infrastructure investments and protection of public health.

Business of Supply  Mr. Chair, in addition to those capital funds we talked about, each year our government provides operation and maintenance funding to ensure first nations systems continue to run safely and in optimal condition throughout their lifespan. In order to help communities build capacity to manage, operate and maintain their water and waste water facilities, the government provides funding to various partners that provide community operators with training to manage, operate and maintain their water and waste water facilities through the circuit rider training program.

Business of Supply  Mr. Chair, on October 14, 2014, the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and the Minister of Health launched engagement with first nations and other stakeholders to develop regulations under the act. Phase one is under way in the Atlantic, Northwest Territories and Yukon regions. ANSI will work with first nations in other regions to assess their readiness for moving forward.

Business of Supply  Mr. Chair, first, I would like to thank the member for Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, a strong member of our aboriginal affairs committee, a proud member of the Plains Cree Nation and former member of the RCMP who has great experience working in first nation communities. I was glad to hear him speak about some of the improvements that our government is making in water and waste water on reserved.

Business of Supply  Mr. Chair, I appreciate the member's interest in CHARS, as he mentioned, as an educator. Obviously, this sort of science and technology infrastructure will benefit students like his former students for generations to come. The CHARS Act will repeal the Canadian Polar Commission Act and will incorporate the CPC mandate into that of CHARS.

Business of Supply  Mr. Chair, not only will CHARS benefit the scientific community in Canada, and indeed internationally, it will support the local economy and generate service contracts and employment in that region. It is estimated that the construction phase alone will generate up to 150 jobs across the north.

Business of Supply  First, Mr. Chair, I would like to thank the member for Red Deer, a strong supporter of our sovereignty, certainly a strong member of our aboriginal affairs committee, and a strong advocate for economic opportunity for aboriginal people. To get back to his question, the Canadian High Arctic research station will provide Canada and the world with cutting-edge science and technology to support and inform decision-making in the north while contributing to the economic prosperity of all Canadians.

Business of Supply  Mr. Chair, it is an important study of which the member has been a key part. We have heard from aboriginal stakeholders from across the country and from aboriginal financial institutions, who are all talking about some of the challenges in accessing capital on reserve and some of the success stories.

Business of Supply  Mr. Chair, I would first like to thank the member for Brampton West for his work on the aboriginal affairs committee. He has certainly been a key member of the study on access to capital, using his vast experience in law to get to the heart of the issues and really lead the way for the Conservative side of the table as we have endeavoured to find out more about this important study.