Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee on March 6th, 2014

[Bernard Valcourt, Conservative, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

As I indicated earlier, in December we announced the creation of the Centre of Excellence for Matrimonial Real Property. This group will be instrumental in helping first nations to adopt the laws they deem necessary to protect and provide these rights to those families on reserve.

Necessarily there has to be a campaign to inform first nations about the benefits of this legislation. As you know, the act came into force in December, but the federal provisional rules will only come into effect one year after; that is, in December 2014. At that time those first nations that do not have their own matrimonial property laws will be subjected to the federal act. At this time, as we speak, we don't have many first nations, if any, that have shown interest in passing their own legislation. But then I attribute this to the fact that the centre of excellence is taking its first breaths, starting to operate, and we'll be able to give more and better information and examples to first nations so they can get on it for the benefit of the families living on reserve.

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Brampton West, ON]

I think its an excellent piece of legislation, and I think it will make a real difference. Other than the obvious benefits, why do you think it's an important piece of legislation?

[Bernard Valcourt, Conservative, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

It is important because for too long other Canadians, members of families or those in common-law relationships, even in the case of death, take for granted, as people living off reserve, the benefits of the matrimonial property rights we all enjoy.

I can't fathom the situation. So many attempts have been made for years to try to solve this problem. I happen to have been practising family law when it was decided by the Supreme Court that these laws did not apply on reserve.

Now in our—I could call it—action plan to protect women and children on reserve, they enjoy the same rights all other Canadians do. I think that was important to do, and now we are in the process of implementation. I trust that the centre of excellence, along with all first nation communities across the country, will pull together to ensure that this be efficiently and effectively implemented for the benefit of women, children, and everyone living on reserve.

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Brampton West, ON]

I'll share my final bit of time with Mr. Strahl.

[Mark Strahl, Conservative, Chilliwack—Fraser Canyon, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Seeback, and, Mr. Minister, for being here.

One of the lines here mentions funding for out-of-court settlements. I'm wondering if you could indicate how many settlements that might have been or give us examples of, either you or the officials, what that refers to.

[Bernard Valcourt, Conservative, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

In the first instance, this over-$1 million item included in the supps was for an out-of-court settlement on which Canada and the plaintiff reached an agreement. It was Paul First Nation v. HMTQ. It's an out-of-court settlement that was reached. This was to the effect that settlement.

[Mark Strahl, Conservative, Chilliwack—Fraser Canyon, BC]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Chris Warkentin]

Thank you.

We'll turn now to Ms. Hughes for the next round of questions.

[Carol Hughes, NDP, Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON]

Thank you very much.

I'm going to share my time with my colleague, Ms. Crowder.

You referenced the first nations control of first nations education act and the need to continue to take the concrete steps necessary to create the conditions for stronger, more self-sufficient aboriginal and northern communities, yet there was a press release dated March 5 about the early childhood intervention program and the funding that's being stopped. It's saying the funding is to be cut at the end of June.

I'm just wondering if in fact that funding is being cut and is it being reallocated somewhere else?

[The Chair, Conservative, Chris Warkentin]

Ms. Hughes, I didn't hear the reference to the estimates with regard to that.

[Carol Hughes, NDP, Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON]

The minister has mentioned the first nation education piece, so I'm just wondering if that is part of the first nation education. There is a little bit of flexibility usually when the minister is here, right?

[The Chair, Conservative, Chris Warkentin]

Absolutely, but I thought we were diverting maybe completely off the subject.

But, Mr. Minister, maybe if you'd—

[Bernard Valcourt, Conservative, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

I'd like to know to what you are referring.

[Carol Hughes, NDP, Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON]

It's the early intervention program.

[Bernard Valcourt, Conservative, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Where?

[Carol Hughes, NDP, Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON]

In Saskatchewan, in Saskatoon, this was a press release in Saskatoon.

[Bernard Valcourt, Conservative, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Okay, the press again....

[Carol Hughes, NDP, Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON]

That's why I was asking you. This came out and I'm just wondering if in fact this funding, the early childhood intervention program funding, is being cut. It says that it's going to be done at the end of June. I'm just wondering if that is in fact the case.

[Bernard Valcourt, Conservative, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

This has got to do with the estimates and the spending for the next fiscal year, it has nothing to do with the supps (C) before us. When we talk about the reprofiling, it has nothing to do with that. As to the amount of money that is invested for childhood and family services, that is in the main estimates. But this year, which is the year we are concerned with, I believe I can safely say that there have been no cuts to that program.

[Carol Hughes, NDP, Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON]

So in fact there won't be a cut to the early childhood intervention program.

[Bernard Valcourt, Conservative, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

I'm talking about the year 2013-14. As to 2014-15, I'll be able to discuss that when we do the estimates.

[Carol Hughes, NDP, Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON]

I can't get an answer, so I'll pass it over to my colleague.

[The Chair, Conservative, Chris Warkentin]

Ms. Crowder.

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

I have a question that is in the supps (C), and it's with regard to treaty land entitlement. I know that there was money reprofiled from Manitoba and Saskatchewan. I wonder, first of all, what that impact was and whether or not there was any consideration of using that money around the creation of urban reserves within the TLE process. We know that there is a lot of demand.

[Bernard Valcourt, Conservative, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

No, this is the implementation of the treaty land entitlement agreements. It is working, of course, with first nations in Manitoba to meet these outstanding treaty land entitlement obligations. As for the reprofiled funds, in the case of Manitoba where it's $1.8 million, our federal payments set out in the Manitoba framework agreement for treaty land entitlement are for the Fox Lake Cree Nation, Shamattawa First Nation, and Sayisi Dene First Nation. These first nations, for whom this money is there, must first sign their treaty land entitlement agreements before we can disburse the funds.