Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee on Oct. 19th, 2006

[Jean Crowder, NDP, Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC]

Actually we have very good staff who will let us know if we have to duck, roll, and hide.

I want to reaffirm the NDP support for this motion. I think it's an important statement for Canada to make on the international stage. We are often looked to for our human rights record, although we have been castigated over the last few years on a number of different conventions. I think it would be an important statement for us to make internationally and domestically about reaffirming our commitment to indigenous rights, so I am in full support of this motion.

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

Mr. Blaney.

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Lévis—Bellechasse, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I think that a declaration is always quite important. I had the opportunity to read excerpts from a conference where many people spoke, including former prime minister and Mr. Fontaine of the Assembly of First Nations. There was also the leader of the Bloc Québécois. This declaration does merit examination as does the motion. I am not sure what each member area of expertise and experience is, but I don't think that the committee has had a chance to take a look at this issue.

So quite humbly, I would put to you that at the very least, it would certainly be very interesting to know the position of our government's negotiators and other stakeholders, if only for one or two hearings, in order to better understand what is at stake here. I submit this to you because I think that before our committee makes any kind of commitment, even though we may all have some preconceived notions in this regard, it would be important for us to clearly demonstrate what this is based on, what the motivations are. I think that any overly hasty decision would arm the credibility of any decision presented to the House by this committee.

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

Mr. Lemay, and then I'll go to Mr. Albrecht.

Mr. Lemay.

[Marc Lemay, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

The Bloc Québécois' position is clear: we will vote in favour of Ms. Neville's motion for several different reasons. The United Nations Declaration on the right of indigenous peoples is a document that has been studied for more than four years. The current government has been aware of this for at least a year, especially since a vote was held on a Bloc motion regarding a draft declaration in June. This motion was adopted on division by the same committee.

Having said that, this is a political issue, and the government must assume its responsibilities and decide what it wants to do about this political issue. For our part, it is quite clear that we would like a debate in the House of Commons on this topic That is why we support this motion and we would like it to be adopted today. Thus, we could discuss it and debate it in the House of Commons directly.

I would like to inform you however, that there will be a vote at the UN General Assembly around December and that any delay in discussing this motion would unduly delay Canada's position which, to my mind, should be to vigorously defend this declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples.

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

Mr. Albrecht.

[Harold Albrecht, Conservative, Kitchener—Conestoga, ON]

Mr. Chair, I don't think there's any disagreement on the fact that all of us around this table want to move forward in terms of improving the lot of aboriginal peoples, not only in this country but around the world. But it is clear that successive governments have struggled with the wording of this document, and this particular motion is very specific about “the United Nations Declaration”. I would propose an amendment, Mr. Chair, that would change the word “the United Nations” to “a United Nations Declaration”, so we continue to work on this and move ahead.

The other may be a separate amendment, but I'd like you to rule. I don't like the word “immediately”. That's rather vague. What does that mean? I would simply strike that word completely and replace the word “the” with “a”.

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

Mr. Albrecht, what was your second amendment?

[Harold Albrecht, Conservative, Kitchener—Conestoga, ON]

I would strike the word “the” and replace it with “a” and strike the word “immediately” totally from the motion. That's my motion to amend.

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

Could you say where you're going to take the “the” out?

[Harold Albrecht, Conservative, Kitchener—Conestoga, ON]

In front of “United Nations”.

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

I have an amendment on the motion, so we can debate the amendment.

[Anita Neville, Liberal, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

There's nothing to debate, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

Are there any comments from Mr. Blaney?

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Lévis—Bellechasse, QC]

If I understand correctly, in the French version, we would delete the word “immédiatement”. Moreover we would replace the expression “un appui à la déclaration” by “un appui à une déclaration”. That is what I understand in the proposed motion.

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

Is that the end of the debate?

Does the amendment carry?

[Anita Neville, Liberal, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

Call the vote.

[Harold Albrecht, Conservative, Kitchener—Conestoga, ON]

Call the vote on this amendment.

(Amendment negatived)

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

Is there any more debate on the motion?

[Marc Lemay, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

I would ask for the vote on the main motion.

[Rod Bruinooge, Conservative, Winnipeg South, MB]

Mr. Chairman, we have an additional amendment that we'd like to put forward.

[Marc Lemay, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

With all due respect, Mr. Chairman, let me point out that the vote on the main motion has been requested.

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

I'll hear the amendment.

[Rod Bruinooge, Conservative, Winnipeg South, MB]

Mr. Chairman, we'd like to, after the word “recommend”, add “after hearing witnesses from this committee concerning the adopting of...”. This is in relation to how we, as a committee, need to further study the UN draft declaration, as we haven't had any witnesses previously. We haven't had any department individuals giving us an overview of this.

I think it's incumbent upon us as a committee to provide that to ourselves, as we clearly need that in order to make an informed decision and make this move forward as a government recommendation.

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

Is there further discussion on the amendment?