Procedure and House Affairs Committee on April 5th, 2022

[Greg Fergus, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

In your testimony to the committee today, I found myself outraged at the fact that there were many members who happened to find themselves, for a whole bunch of reasons, in a different part of the territory and tried to exercise their right to vote but had no effective access to understanding the process or to people who could help guide them through that process so that they could vote appropriately.

I know that my constituents, if they moved or if they were serving abroad, could go to any mission or go to any voting booth and seek to vote. They could write in on the ballot, but it's because most of the people in my constituency speak English or French. They have that full freedom to do what you would expect one would be able to do in your territory but can't effectively do that because of the language barrier. Is that a correct understanding of your testimony?

[Lori Idlout, NDP, Nunavut, NU]

Absolutely. I was so saddened to hear that people had been turned away from voting. To also have to work that hard just for the basic right to vote is such a sad story in Canada.

[Greg Fergus, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

I agree.

[Lori Idlout, NDP, Nunavut, NU]

We know that Canada as a democracy is founded on its right to vote so it really is.... From my perspective, from the people who I represent, from Inuit, we have been oppressed for generations. It was shoved down our throats that our culture does not belong, that we must practise Christianity, that if we speak Inuktitut we'll be whipped with a metre stick, that if we speak our language, if we sing our songs, we're going to be beaten. It's very difficult for Inuit to even go to complain because of those generations of oppressive atrocities towards first nations, Métis and Inuit.

When I was hearing—I forget his name—the one from Elections Canada saying that there have been no complaints, that is just an indication of how strong those government officials are because they're still afraid to go to complain. It's still not an exercise that we can do as easily as other cultures, but that world view and those behaviours are changing. I'm so proud to see more Inuit, more first nations and more Métis becoming more determined and voicing themselves. We are seeing those changes and we need to continue to promote more first nations, Métis and Inuit to exercise their voices.

[Greg Fergus, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

May I have just one last question? It will be a brief question.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bardish Chagger]

I would appreciate a very brief question, and a very brief answer.

[Greg Fergus, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Ms. Idlout, I would like to ask a very practical question. We've heard testimony now at two meetings, where we've compared the voting turnout at territorial elections to the voting turnout at a federal election, the latter being significantly less than the turnout at territorial or municipal elections in the territories.

Would you ascribe that largely to the lack of respect we have shown the folks in your community?

[Lori Idlout, NDP, Nunavut, NU]

The impacts of governments, churches, and the RCMP are still very deep within our communities, and because of that, it's very challenging. When I was campaigning, for example, I heard many people say, “What's the point of voting, when it's not going to make any difference?” Many first nations, Métis, and Inuit have lost the sense of using their voice, because their voice doesn't matter.

We all need to work harder to make sure that we hear first nations, Métis, and Inuit, and make sure that when we're hearing them, we're making decisions that have better impacts for their communities.

[Greg Fergus, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Thank you very much.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bardish Chagger]

Thank you.

Ms. Gaudreau, you have six minutes. Go ahead.

[Marie-Hélène Gaudreau, Bloc, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

Madam Chair, thank you for giving me the opportunity to ask several questions and to make an observation.

I hope those who are following the committee's proceedings and discussions regarding a possible amendment to the Canada Elections Act will take something away. By engaging in a dialogue over a number of hours, we have had the chance to share our views, better understand the issues and show the openness that is so often called for.

Ms. Idlout, even though we may not be able to achieve everything we should by the next election, does the dialogue we have initiated answer your plea at all? As a parliamentarian, I keenly felt it.

[Lori Idlout, NDP, Nunavut, NU]

That's a great question.

When it comes to indigenous languages, more can always be done.

I was fascinated. I don't know if you heard the witnesses who were here a couple of witnesses ago. The two young men who appeared indicated how important it was to invest in actual programming that ensured they had the ability to learn and speak in their languages. I was very impacted by their statements, because it showed the generational differences that we're experiencing between cultures.

More can be done within Canada's programming, but having this dialogue at this committee is also an important aspect of that.

[Marie-Hélène Gaudreau, Bloc, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

Thank you.

The year 1995 marked a very important time in my life. At the age of 18, I felt the need to learn English in order to be taken more seriously in Quebec and Canada. I went to Hawaii to learn English. The experience of the indigenous community in Hawaii is completely different from the experience here. There, people shared a sense of unity, and I even learned Hawaiian in high school. For me, it was part of the culture.

We have two official languages in Canada, but now I realize that things are often tough as a parliamentarian, even in French. I won't call it contempt, but it is still clear today that our differences lead to breakdowns in communication. That is why I am here, as a member of the Bloc Québécois. I can certainly appreciate the steps that have to be taken.

Much of what the witnesses said focused on the measures that could be taken in advance to recognize the various languages—16, in this case—to help revitalize those cultures and to foster a sense of pride among those speakers.

A few days ago, I went to La Conception, in my riding of Laurentides—Labelle. I visited the site of a future indigenous cultural centre called Kina8at, which brings cultures together and helps people discover them to encourage an appreciation of our differences.

Ms. Idlout, I'd like to hear your comments on the outcome of this process.

Do you think we will have taken a significant step down the path of truth and reconciliation with this study?

[Lori Idlout, NDP, Nunavut, NU]

I think the work of this study could play a small part. I know that when it comes to reconciliation, it can't just be compartmentalized. The part of this committee could make a dent in it.

For example, we don't need to have all 16 languages on all of the ballots, but if we know that in Nova Scotia there are more Mi'kmaq, we should make sure that the Mi'kmaq languages are on those ballots in Nova Scotia. If we know that there are more Gitxsan in B.C., we need to make sure that ballots are available in Gitxsan in B.C.

There are opportunities where we can learn procedures that have been used in the NWT, where they know there are pockets of specific indigenous people. We could use those pockets of indigenous people as a model to say that's where we can target those languages. I think it's possible to compartmentalize toward success.

[Marie-Hélène Gaudreau, Bloc, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

Thank you, Ms. Idlout.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bardish Chagger]

Thank you to the both of you.

We now go to Ms. Blaney for six minutes.

[Rachel Blaney, NDP, North Island—Powell River, BC]

Thank you, Chair.

As always, all my questions will go through the chair.

Ms. Idlout, I want to thank you for your work here and for the words you shared with us today. I really admire it. The conversation we're having today is really important.

I'm really moved by the story you told in your testimony about literally having to tell your constituents, “My name is the one in the middle.” That really is a good reminder of how challenging it can be to feel like you even have the right to vote, if all you know when you walk in is that the middle name and those symbols mean that person. I also found it really interesting in the testimony the idea of having photos beside the names.

I would like to ask you a question. The first part of the question is, what do you think about the photos by the name? Does that also assist people who have challenges?

Also, how are we going to see the indigenous population start to vote more? I represent over 20 first nations communities. The voter turnout locally in their own nations is very high, around 90%. They get out and they vote, but when it comes to the federal election, it's a lot lower.

What do you think impedes indigenous voters from casting their vote, and what do you think can be done to increase voter turnout among those communities?

[Lori Idlout, NDP, Nunavut, NU]

It's a great question. Thank you.

For sure it's about learning to understand just how deep the impacts of colonialism have been, especially when it comes to the ballot. As I was mentioning, first nations, Métis and Inuit have been forced away from their world views. When Elections Canada is hiring staff, those staff have to be trauma informed. If they're not trauma informed, then their behaviour is going to seem very colonial. They are so used to just ordering people around and saying, “Do this,” which are the very symbols of colonial behaviours towards first nations, Métis and Inuit.

I think there might be a lack of interest in practising this right to vote when you're voting for people who will ultimately be part of that system. As I said earlier, part of this ongoing conversation we need to have is about making reconciliation real. What are some tangible things we can do that show we are trying to do better for first nations, Métis and Inuit?

I can see why the voter turnout would be a lot higher for first nations because they know that those first nations groups are going to fight for their rights. To have someone represent you who you know will fight for your rights is someone you know you'll want.

To the second part of that question, I think we have to do a better job as parliamentarians in how we do our work. One thing I'm always shocked by when I go back to my riding is, first, how thankful my constituents are that I visited their communities but also how uninformed they are of the services that are available to them within their communities.

There still doesn't tend to be a lot of understanding of what Service Canada does or what Elections Canada can do. I think that as parliamentarians we all can do a better job of informing our constituents of the services that they should be allowed to have, the services that they can expect to have from the Government of Canada, and making sure that legislation, policies and programs are better reflective of the cultural needs of first nations, Métis and Inuit.

[Rachel Blaney, NDP, North Island—Powell River, BC]

Thank you for that.

Something that is very apparent is that there needs to be more work done in this area. What do you think Elections Canada could do about hiring local indigenous people as interpreters, potentially, maybe even as cultural interpreters to raise awareness of what the best process is to move forward to engage that population?

I think this is important because this is a measurable outcome. If we can see some action, we can actually say, “This is the percentage of indigenous people who were voting, and now it's this.” It's so measurable. It seems like something we should invest in.

[Lori Idlout, NDP, Nunavut, NU]

Yes, for sure. That's a great question, too.

I think we've heard some great examples as well, shared by witnesses, including just making sure that Elections Canada has more interpreters who are available, not just for election day but within their staff. I think they need linguists, too, to make sure that they have a better understanding. Cultural interpreters, too, I think are a great idea.

I think it was the NWT elections office that said it would meet with indigenous organizations. The indigenous organizations know who their populations are. I think Elections Canada could meet with indigenous organizations like the Assembly of First Nations and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, these national organizations that work with their people to make sure that their rights are being advocated for.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bardish Chagger]

Do you have a final comment, Ms. Blaney?

[Rachel Blaney, NDP, North Island—Powell River, BC]

I don't think I have enough time for my final comment. I'll leave it at that. Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bardish Chagger]

Ms. Idlout, on behalf of PROC committee members I would like to thank you for your testimony and your time with us today. As I say to everyone, you're always welcome to send us more information, which we will definitely consider as we continue with this report. You've been a fabulous addition. Thank you for your time.

[Voices]

Hear, hear!

[The Chair, Liberal, Bardish Chagger]

Kudos to all committee members for the informative questions.

I will just remind committee members that on Thursday we will meet again. In the first hour we will have Jean-François Daoust, assistant professor, University of Edinburgh; Dwight Newman, professor of law and Canada research chair in indigenous rights in constitutional and international law, University of Saskatchewan; Allison Harell, professor, political science department, Université du Québec à Montréal.

For the second panel, we'll have the Institut Tshakapesh, with Marjolaine Tshernish, general manager; as well as First Nations Education Council, Denis Gros-Louis, who's the director general.

We look forward to continuing this study. With that, I wish everyone a really good day. We'll see you on Thursday.

The meeting is adjourned.