Evidence of meeting #25 for Indigenous and Northern Affairs in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was martin.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Rod Bruinooge Conservative Winnipeg South, MB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'd like to go back to some of the comments that were made on the consultations.
Which MPs were asked to be a part of the process? Were any opposition MPs asked? Mr. Martin, do you know the answer?
Liberal
Andy Scott Liberal Fredericton, NB
Specifically, I was there. I remember that at Calgary the present minister Prentice was there. All MPs were invited.
Conservative
Rod Bruinooge Conservative Winnipeg South, MB
Well, Mr. Martin, in fact the current minister was initially asked by Mr. Scott to take part in some of the round tables leading up to the first ministers meeting, but can you confirm that what he said is true? He said that various other members of your party, including Sue Barnes, demanded that this invitation be cancelled and it should only be a Liberal affair.
Liberal
Paul Martin Liberal LaSalle—Émard, QC
I can tell you, because I was the one who specifically invited Mr. Harper. Mr. Prentice came.
Conservative
Rod Bruinooge Conservative Winnipeg South, MB
I'm talking about the round table leading up to the event.
Liberal
Conservative
Conservative
Liberal
Andy Scott Liberal Fredericton, NB
Just for the record, I think it's important, because you did ask. Mr. Prentice was there in Calgary.
Conservative
Rod Bruinooge Conservative Winnipeg South, MB
But you cancelled an invitation that was made to him, and clearly you're not prepared to answer that.
Liberal
Conservative
Rod Bruinooge Conservative Winnipeg South, MB
I'd like to ask you about other groups that were involved. We had, for instance, ITK, CAP, and Aboriginal Friendship Centres before this committee, witnessing on various topics, but on this topic in particular. For instance, the individual from ITK who witnessed before our committee told us that he was not even told about the consultations until the weekend before the first ministers meeting of last year. Why weren't these parties included?
Liberal
Andy Scott Liberal Fredericton, NB
I can tell you that Jose Kusugak, who was the president for the period in question, was at every round table meeting. He was engaged probably as much as any other Canadian. In fact, you should check the transcript from Kelowna to see what he had to say.
Conservative
Liberal
Paul Martin Liberal LaSalle—Émard, QC
I can tell you something else in terms of Jose. The fact is that not only was he there, but at the earlier meeting, when we announced the Inuit secretariat, Jose was there and the Inuit secretariat was part and parcel of all of this, at the specific request of the ITK.
Conservative
Rod Bruinooge Conservative Winnipeg South, MB
Mr. Martin, during the last thirteen years, unfortunately we saw massive growth in the situation of poor water in first nations communities. In fact, one of your colleagues, Senator Grafstein, stated that he was told the government would bring in dynamic water policies to remedy the situation and that he should keep cool and await the new policy. Regretfully, that had not happened at all during the period leading up to Kelowna.
Why did you neglect the serious issues of water through your terms as both Minister of Finance and Prime Minister?
Liberal
Paul Martin Liberal LaSalle—Émard, QC
First of all, we didn't. We did invest in water, as we invested in other areas.
Conservative
Rod Bruinooge Conservative Winnipeg South, MB
Well, we sure inherited a massive problem, if you invested so much.
Liberal
Paul Martin Liberal LaSalle—Émard, QC
Mr. Chairman, if I could answer the question, if the question is whether we did enough, the answer is no. No, we didn't, and neither did previous governments. It's no excuse that we didn't do enough, but the fact is that it is no excuse now not to go ahead.