Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee on March 6th, 2014

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

I'm glad you raised this because I also had the privilege of being here over 20 years ago. When we talked about post-secondary education very few of those aboriginal youth had the opportunity to pursue post-secondary education. We currently invest over $300 million annually in post-secondary education, including support for the development and delivery of college and university-level courses for first nations and Inuit students.

This funding to Purdy is intended to promote interest among Canada's aboriginal people in the study of business at the post-secondary level and to support research specific to aboriginal communities, curriculum development, and mentoring programs. The funding agreement with the university is already in place in this instance so the department is ready to honour the government's commitment to that contribution. This initiative is not huge but it is meaningful and significant and it will help build a brighter future, I hope, for aboriginal youth and help promote the independence and economic self-reliance of aboriginal communities.

[The Chair, Conservative, Chris Warkentin]

Thank you very much.

We'll turn now to Mr. Genest-Jourdain.

[Jonathan Genest-Jourdain, NDP, Manicouagan, QC]

Minister, you said in your presentation that these supplementary estimates earmarked $36.1 million to meet the Government of Canada's obligations under the Northwest Territories Lands and Resources Devolution Agreement.

Could you tell me if the reclamation of contaminated sites and abandoned mining sites are covered by these $36.1 million? These are federal obligations that are prerequisites to ratifying the agreement.

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

No.

[Jonathan Genest-Jourdain, NDP, Manicouagan, QC]

So, is it because...

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

It is not covered. It is not in the supplementary estimates.

[Jonathan Genest-Jourdain, NDP, Manicouagan, QC]

However, these are obligations of the federal government according to the agreement.

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

That is correct.

[Jonathan Genest-Jourdain, NDP, Manicouagan, QC]

Mr. Minister, we know that the sum of $22 million under vote 10 as well as a sum of $12.7 million under vote 1 will be allocated for the remediation of contaminated sites, and that five of these sites will need to be remediated by March 31, 2014 with this money. If I calculate that quickly, it comes to $35 million.

How much do you estimate the remediation of contaminated sites and of abandoned mine sites in the Northwest Territories will cost under the agreement? This remediation is a Crown obligation. If we assume that $35 million covers around five sites, what do you estimate will be the total cost?

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

I do not think that is the way we should estimate the costs. For these sites, the supplementary estimates set out money spent during the 2013-2014 financial year, but that has nothing to do with the total cost of remediation for these sites.

On March 21, 2013, we had already started the remediation of these 35 sites. I do not have the amounts, but I can provide you with them if you like. This program covers more than 100 contaminated sites. It constitutes a liability of around $2.3 billion. This is very little compared to the sums that must be invested to protect health safety and the environment of these sites.

[Jonathan Genest-Jourdain, NDP, Manicouagan, QC]

So you are not able to say which sums would be allocated for the remediation of contaminated sites and abandoned mine sites under the Northwest Territories devolution agreement. I know that the agreement is being ratified, so this is a Crown obligation. After all, you opened the door to this in the budget. I would like to know if there have at least been estimates and if you have an idea of the final amount that this would represent for the Northwest Territories.

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

We are talking of around $2.3 billion for the 135 sites. But I am sure we can give you information on the anticipated costs for the sites that have already been assessed. That information is available.

[Michael Wernick]

We maintain the responsibility for sites created before the devolution.

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

That is correct.

[Jonathan Genest-Jourdain, NDP, Manicouagan, QC]

How much time do I have left, Mr. Chair?

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

Of course, we are talking about sites for which Canada maintained responsibility after devolution.

[Jonathan Genest-Jourdain, NDP, Manicouagan, QC]

Approximately how many such sites exist, Mr. Minister?

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

There are...

[Michael Wernick]

There are around 100 throughout the north.

[Jonathan Genest-Jourdain, NDP, Manicouagan, QC]

Around 100. Thank you.

I give the floor to my colleague.

[The Chair, Conservative, Chris Warkentin]

You have 40 seconds, Ms. Hughes.

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

Well, what can I say in 40 seconds?

To perhaps stay on the same theme, when we are looking at the decontaminated sites, Wikwemikong first nation is one that has sites, and it's the oil wells. In figuring out these dollar amounts and how the government should make sure those dollars are spent wisely, why is it that when there are so many other wells that need to be capped, that money...? You have the cost of the machinery to put on there, but the machinery is already there, so the cost to have the other ones capped would have been much cheaper.

I'm trying to figure out how we can justify not moving ahead on some of these projects while the machinery is already there.

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

Again, here what is happening. The reason for reprofiling this $35 million is the delays that necessarily follow or accompany these technical regulatory and procurement challenges.

We're in the north. These are very complex sites to remediate, whether you're talking about Giant Mine, Bullmoose Mines, United Keno Hill Mines or Great Bear Lake mine. All of these were delayed due to technical regulatory and procurement challenges.

What is important is that we cannot use the money that is appropriated for these sites and just shift it to others, because of course, we have to continue the work there. Those delays in the finalization of the work taking place result in certain funds not being spent that have to be reprofiled, which were reprofiled.

[The Chair, Conservative, Chris Warkentin]

Thank you, Minister.

We'll turn to Mr. Seeback for the next round of questions.

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Brampton West, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Minister, I know you touched on it briefly in some of your remarks already today, but I do notice that in the supplementary estimates (C) we have two allocations for the implementation of the matrimony and real property rights legislation. I know that only received royal assent late last year.

Can you give us an idea on the progress you're making towards this implementation.