Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee on Nov. 20th, 2007

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

Mr. Chairman, I had asked that this be put on the agenda because we have received certain letters. I see that the Songhees sent us something on October 12^th. In fact, you may have received the letter from the First Nations Education Council on November 7^th, but I know that these people made a request in September. In the end, the House was prorogued until October 15^th.

We must at least tell them something, namely that we have received their request and that we are working on the date that they could come and appear before us. I know that the First Nations Education Council wanted to be heard from us as soon as possible because the minister's office is working on the budget and that budget includes provisions for education. We first nations are very interested in that.

We will have to see if funds are being set aside for the creation of libraries for first nations, for example. Several communities do not have the necessary funds to open la library. The department does not provide funding for libraries. I am talking about primary schools. Moreover, they have no computers in their schools. These people wanted to talk to us about of all these issues. Ms. Bastien, who represents Quebec on the First Nations Education Council has approached me several times. I presume that she or someone else has gone around to see all of the members of the committee.

Without necessarily telling these people that we will meet with them on December 13^th, we could at least let them know that we have received their request and that we will try and meet with them at the beginning of January of next year.

Furthermore, I will admit that I am having trouble understanding the role of the Pacific Peoples' Partnership in all of this. With all due respect, I think that the issue here is climate change and that the challenges are more environmental in nature.

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Peace River, AB]

We're all in agreement.

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

As far as the treaty negotiation process is concerned, I would like to see a summary and at least be informed of what is going on.

[The Chair, Conservative, Barry Devolin]

Just--

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

I can take it off the table for you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Barry Devolin]

Okay, Ms. Crowder.

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

The Pacific Peoples' Partnership is actually an indigenous partnership between first nations in Canada and particularly the Pacific Rim first nations.

They're only going to be here for a specific period of time. So what I will be prepared to do is we'll informally set up a meeting and send it out to committee members and whoever can make it can make it. But it wouldn't be actually here at the committee, because they're only here for a very specific period of time.

So I can take that one off the table.

[The Chair, Conservative, Barry Devolin]

Before we go, I've got Ms. Neville and Mr. Warkentin on the list.

The suggestion from Monsieur Lemay was that we at least send a letter to these folks saying that we received their letter and that while our agenda is full for the next few weeks, we are looking at scheduling things in the new year and that they would be considered at that time. So we're not leaving them hanging. Is that...?

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Peace River, AB]

Perfect.

Take me off of the list.

[The Chair, Conservative, Barry Devolin]

All right.

Ms. Neville.

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

My concern is whether we indicate to people that we will consider them in the new year or not. We have three requests here. I've had a number of people ask me how they come before the committee. I've told them that the issues we're dealing with, first and foremost, involve legislation and that takes precedence. So I think we have to look at the whole issue of whether an individual writes to a committee. The other route is to go to a member and a member can put forward a motion that so and so, or whatever group, is invited to the committee and we can deal with it that way.

It strikes me that we have to have, if not a policy, some guidelines in terms of how we deal with requests to appear before the committee, because I think there are many out there who would like to.

[The Chair, Conservative, Barry Devolin]

If I could put forward a suggestion, maybe we could discuss at a subcommittee meeting whether to have a generic response that says we've received your invitation and we'll consider it or whether to make some sort of rule that requests are only considered if they come through a committee member. There are different options for dealing with the work, rather than resolving it today.

My suggestion is that we at least....

Mr. Albrecht, did you...?

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

Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I just want to concur that if we acknowledge these letters and requests, that's good. But if we set aside either the legislative agenda or even a study that we feel is a priority, I think we're going to get sidetracked on many rabbit trails. We could ask for written submissions about their concerns. There are probably other ways to do it, but I am very concerned that if we just start acknowledging and accepting meetings from every group that applies for a meeting....

[The Chair, Conservative, Barry Devolin]

Sure.

Go ahead, Mr. Bruinooge.

[Rod Bruinooge, Conservative, Winnipeg South, MB]

I'll probably regret saying this, but as the legislative agenda comes before us, there may be ways to incorporate certain witnesses into the legislative study that will be occurring. So they should be kept in mind for the various studies we're going to be doing.

[The Chair, Conservative, Barry Devolin]

I will take it as direction from the committee that I'll draft a generic letter that goes to people, thanks them for sending a request, and explains that we have received it and will consider it. We'll write it in such a way that it's not making a commitment to hear them. Then we'll have this discussion at the subcommittee to come up with something more specific.

In the meantime, I agree with Mr. Lemay that some of these folks wrote to us a couple of months ago, and just as a simple courtesy we probably should let them know that we have received their letters and that they are being considered. We can make a reference to the fact that there are priorities such as legislation that the committee is bound to consider. We're not making a commitment about when we're going to hear them. We'll write it in such a way that we're not making a commitment to hear them in any particular way, but we want them to know that they're on our radar screen.

Go ahead, Monsieur Lemay.

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

I feel I must emphasize the fact that we should meet with the First Nations Education Council at one of our first meetings. These people often meet in Ottawa, giving that they come for all over the country. I feel it would be important to meet with them at the beginning of the year, especially as the minister is going to come and talk to us about his next budget. They are very important issues at stake, for example the funding of first nations primary schools, and these people wanted to come and discuss that with us.

In fact, the session is set to resume next January 28^th. It would be good if we could at least tell them that the meeting will take place soon after we come back. January 28^th is quite far away.

[The Chair, Conservative, Barry Devolin]

I am not disagreeing, but my preference would be that we have that discussion at the subcommittee rather than identify today that one of these has a higher priority than the others.

Is there anything else?

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

No, that's all right.

[The Chair, Conservative, Barry Devolin]

The meeting is adjourned.