Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee on Nov. 28th, 2006

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

I'm not too sure. I know the House likely won't be sitting on the fifteenth, but I think we'll be here on the fourteenth.

Mr. Lemay.

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

There is a rumour going around that perhaps the government party could confirm for us. Once we have passed the estimates in a vote this evening, at 10:00 p.m., the government may decide that the House of Commons will adjourn. Actually, it may do so any time after the supplementary estimates are passed. In addition, we are hearing more and more that the House may adjourn on December 8. I have a problem with that.

That is a rumour, and I would like—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

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

If this is not the case, so much the better. If it is true, we have a serious problem with that.

That is what I wanted to tell the government members. We got the information from our whips. We must be vigilant, because on December 12, we have a very important meeting scheduled to draft our report.

I would like to know whether I am the only one who has heard this rumour. I hope I am.

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

Can the parliamentary secretary enlighten us on any of these rumours, or is he not able to disclose that?

[Rod Bruinooge, Conservative, Winnipeg South, MB]

I can confirm that we will be having meetings up through the seventh anyway--just kidding. I can't confirm or deny that.

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

Madam Crowder.

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

I would be happy if we even looked at the week of January 29, when we come back, before we get into other business. There is some uncertainty here about exactly when we will end, and I think it would be unfair, in all seriousness, to ask witnesses to come on the fourteenth when I don't think anybody expects we will actually to be here. But in that first week in January, as we're gearing back up, it might be a good way to get our heads back into thinking about the problems facing first nations, Métis, and Inuit.

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

We have this motion before us. I am willing to deal with this motion now and let the clerk coordinate those meetings, if it's the pleasure of this committee.

All those in favour?

(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

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

Are we voting on both at the same time?

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

Sure, you can put up your hand again if you want.

Thank you very much.

On Pikangikum, all I want is some sort of direction from this committee as to how we're going to respond to the letter that was received from the minister. Some felt it was a direction from the minister to this committee, and of course we take our direction first from the House. But I think the intent of the letter was to look for help and some counsel on this community.

A number of us have talked to Mr. Valley, who is the member of Parliament for this constituency. He is willing to come to this committee to discuss the issues if the committee so desires. So I'll just ask for some direction for the chair on this letter.

Mr. Lemay.

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

I have two points.

First, it would be a good idea to hear from this individual as soon as we get back in January, that is during the first week back. We already have two motions to study, which have just been passed. We could have the representatives of the Cree-Naskapi Commission appear before the committee on Monday the 29th or Tuesday January 30; immediately afterwards, that same week, we would hear from the Correctional Investigator, and that would be before we begin our study on housing the following week.

Mr. Chairman, I come back to the issue about whether we will be adjourning next week. I want to avoid being caught off guard. I am quite sure that we will be here on December 7, there is no problem there. According to our agenda, the 7th has been set aside for a briefing session by the department on housing. I would invert December 7 and December 12, which has been set aside for drafting our report on post-secondary education.

I would ask our analyst whether this could be done, because I do not want to be taken by surprise. I do not know whether these rumours are accurate. In any case, we never know what may happen on Parliament Hill. The government may decide that the House will adjourn.

Could we at least consider inverting the dates, if this were to be true? As far as the testimony goes, I would plan to hear that at the end of January, particularly as regards the community in question, as a result of the minister's letter.

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

Thank you, Mr. Lemay.

Madam Hurley.

[Mary Hurley, Analyst, Law and Government Division, Library of Parliament]

The schedule planned for tabling the report with the committee, Mr. Lemay, so that you could study it before December 12, means that you must have the draft report by December 7 at the latest. The draft report will be given to the production team on Friday December 1, so that you can get it on the 7th, and thus have time to study it before the 12th. Because of the schedule, that is what we had planned to do, and that is how we have proceeded.

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

Mr. Bruinooge, please.

[Rod Bruinooge, Conservative, Winnipeg South, MB]

I want to speak on Bill C-34, which has already been introduced into the House. Based on some of my discussions, I think it's going to see favourable passage. So there's going to be clause-by-clause on this, and perhaps even some witnesses that we will need to address. I image that might occur early in January. So we need to be mindful of that, in light of the fact that it is government legislation and will trump any other activity we're doing in January.

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

That's the plight of the committee, but I personally think that is a priority, because I think each one of us has had a visitation by some of the delegates from British Columbia talking about that bill and wanting to move it forward as quickly as possible. That would be the decision of the committee, of course, but I would think it would be a priority.

[Nancy Karetak-Lindell, Liberal, Nunavut, NU]

Legislation is always paramount anyway.

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

Right.

Ms. Neville.

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

Just to comment, I haven't had a chance to speak with Mr. Bruinooge about it, but I would certainly have no difficulty in advancing the education act, and in the process, trying to juggle the schedule and the unknown on the rumour that Mr. Lemay has—which I haven't heard, but it could well be so.

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

Mr. Bruinooge.

[Rod Bruinooge, Conservative, Winnipeg South, MB]

Would Madam Neville be suggesting that we could perhaps, with the consultation of the other parties, move right to third reading and bring it to the committee without a vote, or with unanimous consent in the House?

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

I'd like to think about that, if I might.

We have Bill C-292 on Tuesday, December 5. I don't know what colleagues are or are not planning, but to my mind, it seems we may not need two hours for that at all. So that may be an opportunity to bring that bill forward. I haven't consulted with anybody.

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

Right.

I don't know. There isn't much as far as material in the bill is concerned, but then it kind of refers to a substantial amount of material.

Mr. Lemay.

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

We are talking about Bill C-34, an Act to provide for jurisdiction over education on First Nation lands in British Columbia? Is that correct?

I have read it and I have read the agreement. The Bloc's position is clear. We will be supporting this agreement, and as quickly as possible, please. In my opinion, it would be good to do this right away in January.

One thing is certain, Mr. Chairman. Perhaps we could delay beginning our study on housing by two weeks — even though I do not want to delay that — but it is important to study Ms. Crowder's two motions, which are now the committee's motions. Bill C-34 is a priority in my opinion. We could do that as quickly as possible.

And since the witnesses are coming from British Columbia... I have read the agreement and the bill. I will not have many questions to ask. This is a very complex matter. However, we should not get into too many details such as where the school will be built and who will look after the secretarial services for the school boards.

We could move quickly, since we are expecting these funds, the ones provided for in the government's budget of whichever month, and given the fact that they should be allocated as soon as possible.

I know that is the priority of the communities in British Columbia.