Evidence of meeting #2 for Finance in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was federal.
A video is available from Parliament.
1:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
You'll have to leave it there, Phil. We're over the time. We have six-minute rounds this time.
Mr. Caron.
1:30 p.m.
NDP
Guy Caron NDP Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
I thank all of the witnesses.
I will begin with Mr. Obed and Mr. Chartier.
Your presence here is important. The Inuit and Métis people are indeed a part of the founding peoples. I think they must be considered distinct, not only in terms of issues, but also with regard to the history of first nations in general. It is good for us to be exposed to other perspectives here.
I will begin with Mr. Obed.
Your organization receives operating funds from the federal government, correct?
1:30 p.m.
President, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
Yes, we receive some core funding from Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada.
1:30 p.m.
NDP
Guy Caron NDP Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC
Have there been cuts to the operating funds you received from the federal government over the past years?
1:30 p.m.
President, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
Yes, since 2011, 50% of our federal funds have been cut from the organization.
1:30 p.m.
President, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
The core funding from the aboriginal representative organizations fund was a much smaller cut than the Health Canada and other project funding that allowed for Inuit to participate in various projects or work on various issues. I believe we're looking in the neighbourhood of $2 million in cuts.
1:30 p.m.
NDP
Guy Caron NDP Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC
Your organization is fundamental in that it responds to the concerns of the Inuit people and allows them to speak with a common voice.
1:30 p.m.
President, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
Yes, absolutely. We are the democratically elected representational organization for Canadian Inuit. It fulfills constitutional requirements, the overarching duty to consult. It is the way in which Inuit have chosen to mobilize and to interact at the national level with the federal government, yes.
1:30 p.m.
NDP
Guy Caron NDP Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC
Mr. Chartier, I would like to ask you the same question. Does the council also receive federal funding?
1:30 p.m.
President, Métis National Council
Yes, that's correct. We also experienced the same diminution of funding. For example, in 2008 we had about 30 staff, and today we have about seven.
1:30 p.m.
NDP
Guy Caron NDP Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC
Your organization also allows the Métis from all over the territory to speak with one voice, does it not?
1:30 p.m.
President, Métis National Council
Yes, that is correct, but we have five governing members from Ontario west. They deliver the programs and services on the ground, such as the federal assets program and programs received from the provinces. At the national level we're the policy body that interacts on an intergovernmental basis with Canada and the provinces, and also internationally. Yes, we represent the historic Métis nation.
1:30 p.m.
NDP
Guy Caron NDP Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC
Would you say that the cuts you have been subject to these past years greatly hampered your capacity to do your work in an appropriate and effective manner?
1:30 p.m.
President, Métis National Council
Well, yes, certainly it has, on all levels. In particular, for example, on international matters, we continue to be involved when it comes from our pockets. Nationally, we have, of course, been severely cut in our ability to marshal the forces that are required to put forward a strong position.
I believe things are better. With the previous government, we did have a process on economic development and we were having a bit of progress there, so it wasn't all lost. We did have some progress.
1:35 p.m.
NDP
1:35 p.m.
President, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
Yes. In our organization, we have four land claim regions that have their own processes. At the national level, we've created a system in which, on technical issues, we bring representatives from each of those four regions into the same room to then inform the way in which our positions, as the national organization, are structured and finalized. We've had to virtually suspend all of those processes that would allow for Inuit from the four different regions to provide one voice with which to then speak to government.
There's a very huge utility in ensuring that any programs or services that government offers to Inuit are informed by Inuit from across Canada in one particular voice. Otherwise the programs and services, or the policies that are created, are not done in a way that Inuit would like, and they also aren't informed by what would actually work for Inuit in Inuit nunaat, in our regions.
1:35 p.m.
NDP
Guy Caron NDP Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
My last question is addressed to Mr. Chartier.
The events in La Loche were extremely tragic for the first nations, Métis and Inuit.
Does your organization have some concrete proposals to make to the government to improve the situation and to see to it that young people in aboriginal communities feel that they have a future?
1:35 p.m.
President, Métis National Council
That question actually hits quite close to home.
My granddaughter is a grade 10 student at the school. She happened to be outside the school, so that was fortunate.
The community itself is a historic Métis community. Unfortunately, the press and politicians who covered it viewed it as a first nations community. We're beginning to reverse that.
Minister Bennett was up there last week, as was I, addressing and meeting with the Métis community. Next week, an official from her department and I will be there again. We're looking at ways and means to get the community back, involved and working within the Métis Nation governance structure. Part of it is because of the weakness of the provincial body at this time, but that's being corrected as well.
There is a plan in place to begin addressing those issues. I know that the federal Minister of Health, who was there with the Prime Minister, agreed to put aside the jurisdictional barriers and to treat the Métis in the village the same as they would first nations people, in terms of the services provided by the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch.
Things are beginning to take place. It will be a long process, but we are encouraged that things will be looked at, that it won't be just a one-time visit and people will be forgotten. I'll ensure that doesn't happen, in any event.
1:35 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
Thank you, Mr. Caron and Mr. Chartier. I think you can be assured that all members of the committee would pass on their regards with respect to that tragedy.
Mr. Maloney is next.
February 16th, 2016 / 1:35 p.m.
Liberal
James Maloney Liberal Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you all for being here today.
My first question is directed to Mr. Mueller and Ms. Bérubé, although the rest of you are welcome to comment on it.
I think we're at a stage finally where green energy and environmental issues are understood and recognized by everybody to be important. People ask me what issue is important. I always tell them to ask a 15-year-old, because 15-year-olds have a better sense of things and they're not tainted by divisive political gains. That, I think, is what Mr. McLellan was referring to.
Recognizing the importance of the initiatives the two of you are talking about—and I assume they're set out in the materials—my sense is that there's a perception with the public and in some circles that green energy costs money. Can you help us, help me, understand a way that we could explain to people that it doesn't always cost more money or have to cost more money, and help us with some messaging? What happens if we don't follow through on these types of initiatives you're talking about?
1:40 p.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Canada Green Building Council
Thank you. That's a very good question.
I have to comment from a buildings perspective, and it's an infrastructure perspective as well.
We need to design our overall system a lot more efficiently, because simply replacing the energy that's based on fossil fuel now with renewable green energy would not be an easy transition. Basically we need to bring down the end use of the energy we're using. It's not just on a building to building basis; it's also the infrastructure we're providing to provide clean energy. I think there's enough evidence out there now, again depending on the region of the country and what form of energy they use. For example, a geothermal system, which is considered to be a green form of energy, has been used widely in building projects in Canada quite successfully. Business cases show there are very favourable paybacks. The costs of solar voltaic panels and building integrated photovoltaics have come down so significantly that the business case is becoming a lot stronger.
We also have to think about the fact that energy investments are long-term investments. Over the long term they will certainly pay back. We have to think about infrastructure, and these are meant for the long term. I think the business case is getting stronger and stronger as the economies of using those types of technologies increase. Again, it needs to go hand in hand with efficient infrastructure and a very efficient new and existing building stock. If we don't do it, I think we will not be the ones who reap the benefits from reducing our carbon output. It will be two or three generations later.
However, I think we have a responsibility, and I would say more responsibility, to look at all options to reduce our carbon output. As you know, the natural world is already changing, and we are already paying for the effects of climate change in terms of infrastructure, insurance rates, and so on.
Thank you.