Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee on Feb. 22nd, 2007

[Deborah Richardson]

From 1996 to 1998, we funded the electrical grid extension study. Then from 1997 to 2000, there was an electrical grid survey done. Then in 1999 and 2001, there was $7.5 million in funding allocated to the electrical grid extension project. There were some challenges with community leadership, provincial regulatory changes at the time, and a number of things that happened that stalled the project. That's basically the history of it.

[Roger Valley, Liberal, Kenora, ON]

I'm well aware of the history, but I'd like to share again the point that's been made. I believe I heard you say it, so please correct me if I'm wrong: the point is that the community has said to you clearly that they want to go forward. I think that's the important part.

There's a lot of work to be done; there's a lot of work to be done in many of the communities. You mentioned North Caribou; there are a lot of issues there. I can't ask you to continue your presence in Pikangikum, because you have other communities, but I need you to continue your commitment to Pikangikum and to the other communities that need it, and we'll move these issues forward.

It's about going forward, and it's very important for the community to hear that from you. When the minister goes there also, I'd like him to restate that message of support for all communities.

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

Would the Bloc have any further questions?

Go ahead, Mr. Lévesque.

[Yvon Lévesque, Bloc, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

You mentioned that water distribution would be done by truck. Is that right?

[Christine Cram]

Now?

[Yvon Lévesque, Bloc, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC]

When the problem is resolved and the hydro line is installed.

[Christine Cram]

No, this will not be done by truck. As soon as there is electricity, they will try to connect the houses with pipes.

[Yvon Lévesque, Bloc, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC]

Okay. There will be a water and sewer system.

[Christine Cram]

Yes, that is right, but no trucks.

[Yvon Lévesque, Bloc, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC]

You said your budget is spread out over five years. In case of an emergency of this kind, do you have the authority to make recommendations to the minister in order to get ahead in the work, even if that means cutting future investments that you made in the beginning since it will cost less in the long run?

[Deborah Richardson]

Just to give you some context on how we operate, within the long-term capital plan we have contingency for emergencies--for example, for health and safety concerns such fires, evacuations, or floods. We have contingencies so that when those types of things happen, we can react.

Aside from that, we sit with a regional investment management board. Chiefs and community members sit with departmental officials and make priorities about how to spend the long-term capital plan resources.

Where it stands right now is that our number one priority, in terms of health and safety, is water--and schools, but water is the number one priority within our region. We want to make sure community members have clean and safe drinking water.

We have a scaling system that looks at high-risk communities versus medium and low risk, or it identifies a medium-risk community that could turn high quite quickly if we don't do something about it and remediate it. That's the process we go through on a regional basis. We have an action plan about how to get these communities off drinking water advisories, for example; we encourage and work with communities to get them off drinking water advisories. We also have capacity money for training their water plant operators so that they are certified. We are doing lots of things to build capacity within the communities so that the communities will be able to have access to safe and clean drinking water.

[Yvon Lévesque, Bloc, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC]

That was not exactly the response I was expecting. We could all sit around the dinner table and try to sort out my vision. We have assistants on the other side who are prepared to pay for lunch in that case.

Thank you anyway.

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

The chair made a mistake. I should have actually crossed over to the government side before I asked the Bloc to speak. Forgive me.

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

Ah!

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

Mr. Albrecht.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you to each of you for coming today.

I really am excited about the optimism in your report, and about what I understand is the optimism of the elders as well.

I want to ask three questions.

In terms of the support for these projects by the community, I heard you say the elders are all agreed that they want to move forward with the plans as you have outlined them to us today. I understand that in the past there may have been some obstacles, so that's good to hear.

Second, I certainly support the idea of P3s. We're long past the day when we think government can solve these problems, so private-public partnerships are exciting. I'd like to hear you say a bit more about that, if you could, in terms of banks and other possible ideas.

I'm hoping that the infrastructure to be constructed over the next number of years, in addition to solving the problems on the ground, will also create some opportunity for employment and for economic development within. I know the Whitefeather Forest project is one that's already up and running, or well along. Will there be opportunities for the people of the Pikangikum, for example, to be involved in road construction, school construction, power grid work, and all those kinds of things as well?

[Deborah Richardson]

Absolutely. In any terms of reference done for contractors, particularly within northern communities, often there is a component of a local labour force criterion. Whoever the contractor is, that contractor needs to employ and train--if there's not a trained workforce--on some of these projects. I think there is going to be huge opportunity for the people in Pikangikum to work on all of these initiatives.

In terms of P3s, we facilitate many P3s within the region of Ontario. Just to give you some context, the chiefs of northern Ontario are looking at options in terms of lending through bonds, and the possibility of owning the Manitoba-Ontario power line that's going down through northwestern Ontario. That's a P3 initiative; they will have to find financers and lenders to be able to do that, and also to be able to reap the benefits of being owners of a hydro line.

There's lots of potential and lots of huge possibilities. In M'Chigeeng in the Manitoulin area there is a windmill project, and investors are just lining up to get involved with this project and the community. The wind is excellent on Manitoulin Island, in this community; they have tested it over three years, and it's really strong wind energy in terms of alternative energy. There are also run-of-the-river projects happening up in northwestern Ontario, and lots of investors are lining up who are really interested in getting involved and getting a piece of the action.

P3s absolutely need to work. We need to support first nations from a governmental perspective, but also to facilitate investors--and you know what? First nations are facilitating their own investors. There are really exciting things happening in many communities across this country. We get bogged down in the negative things, but first nations are vibrant, and they are developing economies. There are more and more first nations people becoming educated, and it's a growing labour force. If you look at the resource sector and the growing job demands in this country, there are going to be 50,000 new jobs in the resource sector. The opportunities are just huge.

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

Thank you.

Could you address the question of whether there is any further resistance from the elders or the tribal community in terms of the project going forward?

[Deborah Richardson]

You mean the elders' resolution, from the elders?

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

You mentioned earlier that we could have a copy of that.

[Deborah Richardson]

Absolutely.

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

I'd be thrilled to have a copy of it, if I could.

[Deborah Richardson]

Yes.

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

Mr. Blaney is next.

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

I have a few small technical questions.

Is this community part of any tribal council?