Evidence of meeting #142 for Canadian Heritage in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was groups.
A video is available from Parliament.
3:50 p.m.
Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, CPC
Are you asking the House of Commons to vote on a bill whose financial implications are unknown?
3:50 p.m.
Minister of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism
That is how bills are made. It is very rare for a bill to specify precisely the costs involved. There are mechanisms.
In addition, you asked me if I was open to the idea of amending the bill. If I say yes and we pass an amendment, what will that amendment represent financially? For example, if we respond positively to one of the claims of the Inuit or another group, what are the financial consequences? I can't tell you right now, because we are still not sure where we agree.
3:50 p.m.
Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, CPC
In other words, you are aware that the bill involves obligations. At that point, did...
Is my time up already, Madam Chair?
3:50 p.m.
Minister of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism
Yes, it comes with obligations, and that's what we want.
3:50 p.m.
Liberal
February 19th, 2019 / 3:50 p.m.
NDP
Georgina Jolibois NDP Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK
Thank you very much.
[Member spoke in Dene]
[English]
I am a Dene Tsuut'ina person. I speak my language. I say that with pride.
I'm looking at this legislation from that framework. I'm looking at it from the framework of all the Dene-speaking people, all the Cree-speaking people and all the people speaking every indigenous language across Canada. From our perspective, there are some things that we would like to provide. These are suggestions based on conversations that we've had. I want to highlight two things.
The NDP, as you know, including me and my colleague Romeo Saganash, supports the use and education of indigenous languages done in conjunction with first nations, Métis and Inuit people. We want to see the three TRC calls to action related to indigenous languages succeed but not be rushed through. I feel that this legislation is being rushed through. That makes me nervous because I am one hundred per cent behind retaining my language and passing it on. All indigenous communities, first nations, Métis and Inuit, are thinking that. I know that you want to make the right choices, move this along and support it.
You said that you're open to amendments. Are you? There are some suggestions provided by the people who speak the language, the educators, the service providers, the parents, the elders and the list goes on. With that, how can you ensure that this bill is not pushed through without proper consultation with a broad range of people across Canada?
3:55 p.m.
Minister of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism
We can do this because there's a will to change things and because there's a will to have a good bill.
I think we're starting with a good bill. Is it perfect? No. Can we improve it? Probably. However, it is based on consultations that took place over two years across the country, with different groups, elders and experts.
3:55 p.m.
NDP
Georgina Jolibois NDP Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK
With all due respect, Minister, I wasn't consulted. My colleague wasn't consulted. Many people I know, Dene-speaking and Cree-speaking, were not consulted. Therefore, they want to have a chance to present.
I'm sorry to cut you off, but another concern is there is not a specific amount for funding. I had conversations with on-reserve schools and organizations, and also discussions with provincially run schools and organizations. They have the same goal and the same purpose. They want to do the same thing: to teach the language and culture and to retain it.
How can we ensure that we make changes with regard to the funding, to expand the funding to allow provincially run schools, as well as non-profit organizations, to apply and have access to the funding^ What about even the radio stations across Canada?
3:55 p.m.
Minister of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism
In that case, it would imply negotiation with the provinces, but what is done with the funding will be decided by the indigenous leaders, by the groups, by the different representatives. We are not the ones who are going to decide how you do it.
3:55 p.m.
NDP
Georgina Jolibois NDP Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK
That makes me nervous, because you are the government. The Liberal government is the government proposing this legislation to allow leadership—
3:55 p.m.
Minister of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism
It's in collaboration with them.
3:55 p.m.
NDP
Georgina Jolibois NDP Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK
—that's failing the day-to-day people, the children, the elders, the parents. I'm not confident that will work to teach and to retain the languages, if we allow that mechanism to take—
3:55 p.m.
Minister of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism
Are you saying that you prefer that I tell them what to do?
3:55 p.m.
NDP
3:55 p.m.
NDP
Georgina Jolibois NDP Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK
I think you understand what I'm saying, but you're just playing the game here.
3:55 p.m.
Minister of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism
No, I'm sorry. I don't.
3:55 p.m.
NDP
Georgina Jolibois NDP Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK
In terms of the mechanisms, with all federal organizations, when they say funding is available, they provide mechanisms. They provide rules and regulations and say this is what it will be. Then the groups on the ground apply for funding following those rules and regulations. That's what I'm saying.
3:55 p.m.
Minister of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism
There will be mechanisms, and those mechanisms I discuss with the different groups. There will be stable and long-term funding. There will be mechanisms for the three different groups, but on the ground what is done will be decided by the different communities. Why? Their needs in terms of languages are very different, one language or the other, and how many people remain speaking the language. Therefore, the mechanism will be co-developed with them, but at the end of the day, the projects are theirs. That's what I am saying.
3:55 p.m.
NDP
Georgina Jolibois NDP Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK
I'm really confused by your description, because that's not where I come from, where the indigenous people are at. That says to me this is not taken seriously; my language is not taken seriously; the Cree language is not taken seriously; ITK languages aren't taken seriously. That makes me nervous. I want to make sure that the children of every indigenous language group, every indigenous family, feel proud in making sure that they are passing it on. That's where schools are really crucial, elders are really crucial, bands are really crucial, northern villages are crucial and everything from friendship centres to organizations right across are crucial.
3:55 p.m.
Minister of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism
We have exactly the same objective.
3:55 p.m.
NDP
3:55 p.m.
Minister of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism
However, we are. We're going to the same place.
