Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee on Nov. 29th, 2007

[The Chair, Conservative, Barry Devolin]

Thank you, Mr. Deputy.

At this point I want to point out to the committee that we basically have three options for the last five minutes of the meeting. The first would be that Mr. Bruinooge would take the final turn for government, which would be his right. The second is that we could go to actually going through the formality of voting on the different pieces of the supplementary estimates, although that is not necessary. The third option would be that we adjourn five minutes early.

It's my understanding that Mr. Bruinooge doesn't want to trade his time, so if we want to stay, he'll take it. But if the committee would prefer to adjourn at this point...?

Can I have a motion for adjournment?

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

This is a point of information, or order--I don't know. The minister had committed to responding to the questions that were unanswered, and I wonder if the department is going to make the same commitment of responding in writing to the questions that we didn't get in this round.

[Michael Wernick]

If we get them in written form, we'll provide answers, and we're quite happy to come back on any issue that you feel deserves further exploration.

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

The blues will reflect the questions that weren't answered.

[Michael Wernick]

We'll work with the committee clerk to sort out--

[The Chair, Conservative, Barry Devolin]

We'll go through the blues and identify questions that were not answered.

Mr. Lemay.

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

I thought that I still had a minute to ask a question.

[The Chair, Conservative, Barry Devolin]

It's Mr. Bruinooge's turn, so if we're going to have more questions, it would be his turn. He's agreed that if the committee doesn't want to sit through that, we can either adjourn or go to the votes now, but he's not prepared to trade that.

Ms. Crowder, really quickly.

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

I just don't know why we wouldn't vote on the estimates. That's the last piece of business.

[The Chair, Conservative, Barry Devolin]

Ms. Neville.

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

I'd be happy to vote on the estimates, Mr. Chair, but I am wondering if we could take Mr. Wernick up on the offer to do a briefing on the food mail program. What I asked is the tip of the iceberg. He identified many of the issues that are about the food mail program, and an even larger one is the accountability there.

[The Chair, Conservative, Barry Devolin]

I agree, and we've made a note of that and I think it's something the subcommittee can discuss.

Last point, I hope, Mr. Lemay?

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

I have one last point to raise, but I do not know if the witnesses will have time to answer today.

There is fraud on an annual basis at the department concerning the use of Certificates of Indian Status by people who are not Indians. I would like information on that situation.

[The Chair, Conservative, Barry Devolin]

Mr. Lemay, excuse me. I think we're done with the questioning rounds, so I'd like to move onto the votes at this point. You can speak to the gentlemen after that.

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

No, just a moment, Mr. Chairman.

They said earlier that they would provide us with answers in writing. I agree, there is no problem with that, but I would like them to add information on what is happening with respect to the Certificates of Indian Status and the replacement of those certificates, which represents fraud, on an annual basis, costing the department more than $60 million.

[Rod Bruinooge, Conservative, Winnipeg South, MB]

That will be one to maybe answer in writing.

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

That is what I want, that is what I am saying: I want to have an answer in writing.

[The Chair, Conservative, Barry Devolin]

That's on the record.

Okay. At this point, then, I'd like to thank the witnesses for their answers today and for being with us.

Now I would like to proceed to actually voting on the estimates.

INDIAN AFFAIRS AND NORTHERN DEVELOPMENT

Department

Vote 1a--Operating expenditures, and (a) expenditures on works, buildings and equipment; and expenditures and recoverable expenditures in respect of services provided and work performed on other than federal property; (b) authority to provide, in respect of Indian and Inuit economic development activities, for the capacity development for Indian and Inuit and the furnishing of materials and equipment; (c) authority to sell electric power to private consumers in remote locations when alternative local sources of supply are not available, in accordance with terms and conditions approved by the Governor in Council; and (d) the payment to each member of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada who is a Minister without Portfolio or a Minister of State who does not preside over a Ministry of State of a salary not to exceed the salary paid to Ministers of State who preside over Ministries of State under the Salaries Act, as adjusted pursuant to the Parliament of Canada Act and pro rata for any period of less than a year – To authorize the transfer of $11,881,171 from Industry Vote 1, Appropriation Act No. 2, 2007-2008 for the purposes of this Vote and to provide a further amount of..........$13,990,992

Vote 10a--The grants listed in the Estimates and contributions – To authorize the transfer of $37,250,000 from Industry Vote 10, $7,506,000 from Transport Vote 55, $1,920,615 from Canadian Heritage Vote 5, and $488,387 from Health Vote 5, Appropriation Act No. 2, 2007-2008 for the purposes of this Vote and to provide a further amount of..........$105,212,430

Vote 15a--Payments to Canada Post Corporation pursuant to an agreement between the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Canada Post Corporation for the purpose of providing Northern Air Stage Parcel Service..........$20,000,000

Vote 20a--Office of the Federal Interlocutor for Métis and non-Status Indians – Operating expenditures – To authorize the transfer of $242,105 from Canadian Heritage Vote 1, Appropriation Act No. 2, 2007-2008 for the purposes of this Vote..........$1

Vote 25a--Office of the Federal Interlocutor for Métis and non-Status Indians – Contributions – To authorize the transfer of $4,934,750 from Canadian Heritage Vote 5, Appropriation Act No. 2, 2007-2008 for the purposes of this Vote..........$1

Office of Indian Residential Schools Resolution of Canada

Vote 55a--Operating expenses.........$589,000

Vote 60a--Contributions..........$25,000,000

(Votes 1a, 10a, 15a, 20a, 25a, 55a, and 60a agreed to)

[The Chair, Conservative, Barry Devolin]

Would you like the chair to report the votes to the House?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Barry Devolin]

Thank you. I believe our business is done for today. The meeting is adjourned.