Evidence of meeting #39 for Indigenous and Northern Affairs in the 40th Parliament, 3rd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was projects.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Deputy Minister, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
That's what it says here.
Deputy Minister, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
That's what it says in my note, too, sir.
Liberal
Larry Bagnell Liberal Yukon, YT
Okay, great. That's perfect.
I'm very happy. Thank you. Your department has been very helpful on that file for us, and of course, thanks also to all the staff for coming here. You've all been very helpful for me when we've asked for things.
Now, on my second question, apparently the five-year moratorium on development of the Horn Plateau--the interim protection agreement in place while the land claim is being negotiated with the Deh Cho--has expired. You have not renewed it and apparently the Deh Cho are not very happy about that. Could you explain?
Obviously the claim isn't signed yet. Apparently the plateau is slated to become a national wildlife area under the protected areas strategy, so the result of not renewing the interim protection agreement is that mining companies will go in and stake claims, making it much harder to have a protected area. I wonder why you're not renewing that interim protection.
Deputy Minister, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
I think I'm going to have to pursue that in writing, Mr. Bagnell.
Deputy Minister, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
I don't want to get this wrong.
Deputy Minister, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
There were land withdrawals of surface to subsurface in the area. I just want to make sure I have the right ones.
Liberal
Larry Bagnell Liberal Yukon, YT
That's fine. If you can get back to us, it would be great.
This is going to be harder for you to answer, but I'm wondering about the Inuit bill, Bill C-25, which is actually mentioned in the minister's speech. From my understanding, when it came here in June or sometime, I think, it looked like there was unanimous support and you could put the thing through in a day. And it's still not.... Where is it? Can't you just get that done?
Deputy Minister, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
We're ready to proceed. I think that's between committee members, the minister, and the parliamentary secretary as to how you want to schedule your business, but we'll be ready to proceed when the committee is.
Deputy Minister, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
I think it's traffic control in Parliament. That's my understanding.
Liberal
Liberal
Larry Bagnell Liberal Yukon, YT
I'm wondering about the food mail program, the northern nutrition program. If a recommendation were to come out sometime in the future, now that everyone's seen it, and they've got problems with the concept, were they to go back to the old program and fix it up with some minor fixes, or were they just to delay for some time so that people could actually get ready? Because a number of things haven't even been announced in the new program. Would the department be open to discussion on that?
Deputy Minister, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
It wouldn't be my call. My instructions are to proceed with implementation of the program on April 1. I know that you have officials coming on Monday. I'd be happy to take questions specific to the implementation.
We're proceeding. You know about the eligibility list. The rate schedule should be coming out any day now. I think actually that it might be disruptive to people to slow it down at this point, but perhaps on Monday I'll take people who know the program inside out and they can answer questions on that.
It wouldn't be my decision. Our instructions are to implement the program that cabinet approved and to do it as much as possible in partnership with people of the north. That's why we have the advisory committee.
We know that in the first year it won't be perfect and there'll be feedback and there'll be a need for adjustments, as there is in any government program, and the advisory board will be helpful on that.
Liberal
Larry Bagnell Liberal Yukon, YT
Thank you.
I want to get my last question in here.
It's a given that there's a real shortfall for education and that the amount per capita available for aboriginal students is going down. The “capital money for schools” horror show has been brought up numerous times in Parliament. Underfunding per student compared to that in provinces has come up a number of times.
Given all those problems, why, in this speech on the supplementary estimates--whoever wrote the minister's speech--does it say, “Together, we have been working to ensure First Nation children receive the education they require to prepare them for the future”. Also, the speech says “provinces” and doesn't include territories.
Why does it say that when there's not even the money in the supplementaries for any of all those needs? I would have avoided putting it in the speech.
Deputy Minister, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Well, you'll know that in the main estimates the department will spend $1.4 billion this fiscal year on K-to-12 education, elementary and secondary, for about 120,000 students. That's approximately $10,000 per student if you want to use that as a metric, and that's very comparable to the provincial systems.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Bruce Stanton
Thank you very much, Mr. Bagnell.
Our final question will go to Mr. Dreeshen. We have just a couple of short housekeeping items and then we'll wrap up.
Go ahead, Mr. Dreeshen.
Conservative
Earl Dreeshen Conservative Red Deer, AB
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Thank you to the witnesses.
There has been some work undertaken and discussions held in certain regions regarding the current election system, so I just wondered if perhaps you could update us on the government's plans moving forward in regard to changes in the way the first nations elect their leadership.