Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee on May 29th, 2018

[Arnold Viersen, Conservative, Peace River—Westlock, AB]

So it's not your role to uphold that law.

[Jane Philpott, Liberal, Markham—Stouffville, ON]

We believe that the approach of previous governments has been counterproductive, has in fact led to serious economic—

[Arnold Viersen, Conservative, Peace River—Westlock, AB]

Let's get back to my other question, Minister. Do you believe—

[Mike Bossio, Liberal, Hastings—Lennox and Addington, ON]

On a point of order, Chair, please allow the minister to answer the question.

[Arnold Viersen, Conservative, Peace River—Westlock, AB]

Mike, it is my time on the clock—

[Mike Bossio, Liberal, Hastings—Lennox and Addington, ON]

Have respect for the minister and allow the minister to answer the question. This is a point of order.

[The Chair, Liberal, MaryAnn Mihychuk]

I disagree with you, Mr. Bossio.

[Arnold Viersen, Conservative, Peace River—Westlock, AB]

This gets back to the beginning: do you believe in the rule of law? Financial transparency is the law of the land. Travis is in some ways much better off than other people in this country, such as Charmaine Stick, because he doesn't live on a reserve. Charmaine Stick lives on a reserve. Her house has been threatened to be taken away. When asked how she can be helped, she says, “Can you help me with some ammunition?” She lives in fear of her own life.

She has taken her own band to court to get this financial transparency law enforced, and the court has sided with her.

However, you were just there announcing millions of dollars in health—

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Scarborough—Rouge Park, ON]

On a point of order, Madam Chair, relevancy is important here. The minister is here—

[Arnold Viersen, Conservative, Peace River—Westlock, AB]

You were just there announcing millions of dollars to Onion Lake Cree Nation—

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Scarborough—Rouge Park, ON]

Madam Chair, I have a point of order. It's relevancy. The minister is here to speak about the main estimates.

[Arnold Viersen, Conservative, Peace River—Westlock, AB]

[Inaudible—Editor]

[The Chair, Liberal, MaryAnn Mihychuk]

No, your time has been suspended and will be renewed.

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Scarborough—Rouge Park, ON]

The minister is here to talk about the main estimates, Madam Chair, and I think the questions need to be directed with respect to the main estimates. You do give quite a bit of leeway, but in this particular case I think we've gone well beyond the scope of why the minister is here.

I think if there are other issues, then the minister will probably come back and speak on that. But I think it's inappropriate to continue a line of questioning that is outside of the scope of what the minister is here to do.

[The Chair, Liberal, MaryAnn Mihychuk]

I understand from the clerk that in fact the main estimates allow you to ask questions that are very broad in scope, so I find, actually, that the questioning is appropriate.

There are approximately two more minutes left. We do have our own styles of asking questions and this is eating into the time we have for other members, so I would ask that we proceed.

MP Viersen, you have two minutes left.

[Arnold Viersen, Conservative, Peace River—Westlock, AB]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Getting back to this, you were recently at Onion Lake announcing millions of dollars for their health systems there. Did you meet with Charmaine Stick while you were at Onion Lake?

[Jane Philpott, Liberal, Markham—Stouffville, ON]

I did not meet with Charmaine Stick.

[Arnold Viersen, Conservative, Peace River—Westlock, AB]

What do you have to say about her? The court ruling was found in her favour. Would you congratulate her on that?

[Jane Philpott, Liberal, Markham—Stouffville, ON]

This is something you and your colleagues bring up at committee on a regular basis and—

[Arnold Viersen, Conservative, Peace River—Westlock, AB]

Yes.

[Jane Philpott, Liberal, Markham—Stouffville, ON]

—if you have serious concerns about this particular issue, I would encourage you to reach out to me or my office at any time between my committee appearances to discuss the specifics. I'd be happy to get you details as to this particular person's circumstances.

I'm going to ask for the chief financial officer of our department to give you some comments in terms of his views as to the appropriateness of our approach and its effectiveness.

[Arnold Viersen, Conservative, Peace River—Westlock, AB]

I would just put on the record that Travis has reached out to your office on a number of occasions and he has relayed to me that this has been much less than fruitful.

[Jane Philpott, Liberal, Markham—Stouffville, ON]

As I say, I'd be happy to have a conversation. You're going back and forth between a couple of different people—

[Arnold Viersen, Conservative, Peace River—Westlock, AB]

The issue is the same.

[Jane Philpott, Liberal, Markham—Stouffville, ON]

—and so the question is changing. If you are truly concerned about these communities and these particular individuals.... My goal is to see first nation communities thrive and the individuals therein to find approaches that are respectful—