Thank you, Member, for your question.
It's important to think about what neglect is. Too often as Canadians we think neglect is a parent not doing his or her job properly. But when you look at the poverty and the poor housing, particularly for first nations, you see that those are things beyond the ability of people on reserve to control, because the people do not own their own residences. Their economic development is restricted by the Indian Act. So what we have created, along with the inequitable services on reserve, is what I often term a “perfect storm of disadvantage”. If you put any child in those conditions, their parents would struggle to take proper care of them.
The good news is that the federal government has control over housing on reserve. It has control over the Indian Act. It could promote economic development. It could ensure equity in children's services. If we did that, Member, I totally believe that we could finally turn the page on the disadvantage of first nations children. We would have substantial grounds from which to make other opportunities available. Some people might ask, well, Cindy, will that solve all the problems? Well, clearly not. But it would provide the best opportunity for success.
There's a reason why inequity is not a determinant of help. We as Canadians and you particularly as leaders in the federal government have an opportunity to make sure this is the generation that grows up knowing what it is to be treated with equity, support, and respect by the Government of Canada.