Government Operations Committee on March 8th, 2023

[Julie Vignola, Bloc, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

Thank you.

[Mona Fortier, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Taken from you, that's [Inaudible—Editor]—

[Julie Vignola, Bloc, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

Our committee tabled a report on public servants involved in the disclosure of wrongdoing.

Will the recommendations made in that report finally—dare I say—be implemented?

[Mona Fortier, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Thank you for the question.

As we said, we have to do things properly, without half measures. Amending the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act is not as simple as adopting the recommendations made in the report of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates.

Some of those recommendations would overlap with other possible avenues of recourse, resulting in needless duplication and inconsistent decisions. Others can simply not be done. On the other hand, we will draw on some of the committee's work to strengthen Bill C‑290.

[Julie Vignola, Bloc, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

I'm afraid that is your time, though.

[Julie Vignola, Bloc, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

My five minutes!

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

I apologize.

We have Mr. Johns for six minutes, please.

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

Thank you, Minister, for being here. Happy International Women's Day.

In the Department of Indigenous Services, they're requesting $170.9 million for the continued implementation of Jordan's principle. This funding, they say, will be used to provide first nations children with access to needed health, social, education products, services and supports.

Can you talk about how many first nations children and families will benefit from this funding? Given that the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal determined that victims and survivors of the federal first nations child and family services program could have been compensated any time since 2016, when will the Government of Canada begin compensating them?

[Mona Fortier, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Thank you for that question. It's a very important question, MP Johns.

I could get a more specific response to your question on the specific numbers. I know the amount will be used, of course, to advance.... Annie might have some specific numbers to share with you today.

[Annie Boudreau]

Thank you, Minister.

Since July 2016, the Government of Canada has funded over 2.36 million requests for products, services and supports for first nations children under Jordan's principle.

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

In terms of the compensation.... Actually, I'm going to another question.

Given that the government is still fighting the human rights tribunal's decision, it would be interesting to see what you're paying lawyers to fight the decision. How much is the government allocating to keep fighting cases that indigenous peoples have brought against the federal government?

[Mona Fortier, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

I know how important this question is, MP Johns. I would have to go to the minister responsible to understand those specific requirements.

We are, of course, having an amount to support the children. Therefore, if you want me to ask the minister, I can do so.

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

Okay, we'll look for that from you.

In terms of the agreement in principle in place right now that sets the framework for ending the federal government's discrimination in child and family services and Jordan's principle over five years, what is your government doing to ensure the discrimination doesn't recur in year six and beyond?

[Mona Fortier, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Again, as you know, we are working very hard, and with every parliamentarian also, to make sure that we don't have any more discrimination. We have a lot of work to do, of course, but specifically to your question, I would address it to the minister responsible to share the strategic plan that they're moving forward. I think we know that we are investing and we are bringing forward those—

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

I hope I'm not going to get that in the next question, because you're the one who supplies money to these departments, and—

[Mona Fortier, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

I understand, but the minister responsible is the one developing the strategy. I allocate the resources.

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

Okay. Sure.

Your government also made a commitment of $4.5 billion in terms of an annual permanent transfer for mental health and substance use. So far, there's $875 million that still hasn't been spent on the promise to date. Meanwhile, we're in a crisis, as you know, when it comes to mental health.

Now, the recent health care bilateral agreements with the provinces and territories provide temporary funding of $2.5 billion annually to be divided into four priority groups, one of which includes mental health. It's far from what you promised in the transfer, and now, with multiple coinciding crises and facing emergency department closures and health human resource shortages, why has your government significantly decreased its funding commitment? We have a toxic drug crisis. We have a mental health crisis that's happening in our country.

[Mona Fortier, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Thank you for that question.

I have to say that we are investing in mental health, and we know that a very important agreement is happening right now with provinces and territories to make sure that we deliver on mental health care across the country—

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

I think we need some more transparency, because we don't know what's in those agreements. We need to know. People need to know. We're far below our peers. We look at France and Britain, which are spending 12% on mental health. In Ontario, it's 3%. In my home province, it's going to be closer to 9% with the recent billion-dollar commitment by the Eby government. We need the federal government to step in and ensure parity with regard to physical and mental health.

I had a parent just write me—

[Mona Fortier, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Well, I was in my riding this week—

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

I just had a parent write me. His son is addicted to fentanyl. He said he's going to have to sell his house because his son is in treatment. Now, if his son broke his neck, he'd get covered. This parent shouldn't have to sell his home to save his son's life. That shouldn't be happening in a country like Canada, and I hope you'll fulfill your commitment.

[Mona Fortier, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

We are investing important amounts in mental health, and I know that in my riding—

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

Minister—

[Mona Fortier, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

If I may...? In my riding this week, I was at Recovery Care. Important amounts for safe supply have also been invested in communities—