Evidence of meeting #67 for Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was manitoba.
10:45 a.m.
Representative, Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs
Yes, I do believe that. I know we have a provincial fund right now that was given by the feds for off-reserve housing. I know they've moved three projects already. I have one here. It's—
10:45 a.m.
Representative, Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs
Yes, that one, and that's partnering with the government and partnering with the real estate branch, one of the head ones in Manitoba in real estate. It goes a long way, and I don't think you could separate the two. I don't think you could separate the two, because housing on-reserve is no different from any housing. The need is still there. I would say half of our population is in cities now. The migration to cities is going to get higher as the need gets higher in our communities. Just in my community alone, there is a backlog of 400 houses. Then that compounds the overcrowding.
There should be a separate one, because as I said, we are unique. We are an anomaly. It's not special status; it is something we have under treaty and it is something owed to us. This is not a sense of entitlement. This is rhetorical, but I believe in capitalism. I believe in some of the things about taxes and who is going to help pay for the recession and who is going to help bring that debt down. I believe in those things. I also believe in socialism, a bit of Marxism there, but I do believe in a balance of the two. We need some compassion for our people. I believe in a hand up. I also believe in a handout.
I want to say again, after I talked about the myth earlier that our people are lazy, that there is a community in B.C., one of the most successful in Canada, the Osoyoos First Nation. Chief Clarence Louie talks about how successful they are, and the key is to just get off your butt--excuse my language. But that is not the only key. Not everybody has a geographic location like he has. He basically won a geographic lottery. We cannot duplicate what he did there in a lot of our remote communities in Manitoba.
10:45 a.m.
Representative, Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs
We are unique, and we need unique solutions.
Thank you.
10:45 a.m.
Conservative
Dona Cadman Conservative Surrey North, BC
Did I read here somewhere that you have 64 communities and 15 are semi-isolated and five are isolated for certain periods?
10:45 a.m.
Representative, Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs
I have that here, yes.
10:45 a.m.
Conservative
10:45 a.m.
Representative, Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs
Yes. Those are accessible for probably three to six weeks. Six weeks is a good end by a winter road.
10:45 a.m.
Conservative
Dona Cadman Conservative Surrey North, BC
I have a question. I asked this question in B.C. That's where I'm from. I got a very nasty, sort of uppity reply, and I can't blame her. But I've been on reservations in B.C. and I have seen this first-hand, and I am wondering if it happens here. That is where the chief gets the money and then the money doesn't trickle down to the people, where it should be going; he keeps it for himself and his family or the group he has around him.
Do you think there should be fiscal accountability for the chiefs?
10:45 a.m.
Representative, Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs
Absolutely. I hear from my own community members, “Are you in Hawaii? Are you in Las Vegas this week?” You know what, I don't really hear that, but I hear it from other chiefs.
Please, no offence to the MPs, no offence to MLAs, but first nations leaders are unique. We are accessible 24/7. We have no pensions. The issues we are up against are immense, and the solutions and the money to address them are very inadequate. We are expected to do much more with so very little. And the spotlight is on us; the microscope is on us. But the reality is that there are only a few—less than 6%, I would say—who didn't meet proper audits. It is over 85% who are making—
10:45 a.m.
Conservative
Dona Cadman Conservative Surrey North, BC
Unfortunately, it is one or two who are making a bad name for everybody.
10:45 a.m.
Representative, Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs
Yes, there are a few bad apples.
Speaking of my own case, since April I have had two weeks of annual leave. That is how dedicated I am. It's not so much dedication, but I can't take time off because things need to be addressed.
Thank you.
10:50 a.m.
Conservative
10:50 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Dean Allison
Thanks, Dona.
We're almost done.
Mr. Lessard, you wanted to have another couple of final questions, so why don't I just turn it over to you to finish up for us?
10:50 a.m.
Bloc
Yves Lessard Bloc Chambly—Borduas, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Because this is our last time around the table, I would like, as a member of the Committee, to add my voice to yours and thank and congratulate our entire support team, including the people who handle logistics, the translators, our beloved clerk and the editors. They are all consummate professionals and very dedicated. They deserve recognition. I wanted to thank them as you did earlier.
Mr. Fontaine asked us a moment ago what costs more: education or prison? Prevention or amputation? That brings into focus the ideas we are sharing here. Investment in poverty is a true investment, not an expense. I think we have to look at it that way.
Each of you put forward the view that our report must make reference to a comprehensive plan that includes a timetable and priorities. There is a good chance that that suggestion will be followed. But how we get there is an entirely different story. If we are going to do it, we have to identify our priorities quickly.
Can each of you tell me briefly what the priority should be? I would like you to identify just one, not three or four, even though we will also be taking other priorities into account. If each of you had to name a priority, what would it be?
10:50 a.m.
Director, Manitoba, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
For me, it's housing. That's what we've been hearing loud and clear from the community. So I would say social housing.
10:50 a.m.
Representative, Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs
Treaty rights in the three core areas: housing, health, and education.
10:50 a.m.
A voice
That was tricky. You got three in.
10:50 a.m.
Voices
Oh, oh!
10:50 a.m.
Co-chair, Manitoba Federation of Non-Profit Organizations Inc.
That's a hard one.
Yes, those are important, but if you don't have the ability of organizations to do that, to be able to deliver on those things and support them, you will not have longevity and you will not have the ability to service in the long term.
10:55 a.m.
Communications co-ordinator, Right to Housing Coalition
A national housing strategy for social housing in Canada.