Evidence of meeting #148 for Indigenous and Northern Affairs in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was families.
A video is available from Parliament.
Prof. Peter Hogg
Bill C-92 is a good example of this. The bill talks about various expressions, but the act is all about indigenous people.
I have no doubt whatsoever that an act respecting children, youth and families is within Parliament's jurisdiction in this area, and that does provide the justification. The power over Indians and lands reserved for the Indians does provide the power for this kind of legislation.
Liberal
Liberal
The Chair Liberal MaryAnn Mihychuk
I think that our representative from Saskatchewan wanted to throw something in.
I don't know if you want to—
Tribal Chief, Saskatoon Tribal Council
It is not pertaining to that. It's an amendment.
I'm not sure, Madam Chair, if I just give this to you after or if you would like me to read it into the record.
Liberal
Mike Bossio Liberal Hastings—Lennox and Addington, ON
Yes, give it to the clerk, because I have one more question that I'd like to ask Michelle, if possible.
Liberal
Mike Bossio Liberal Hastings—Lennox and Addington, ON
Michelle, I want to ask a question, and we heard this from ITK as well, on how we can better support communities in gathering data.
We know there's a shortage of data in this whole process. How can we better do that?
Deputy Minister, Health and Social Development, Nunatsiavut Government
We're probably a little more fortunate than some other Inuit regions, in that we have a memorandum of understanding with the Newfoundland and Labrador government around some data sharing. With the new review we've just completed with the child and youth advocate, a lot of that data is coming forward, and with it, the recommendation that more of it has to be shared with us.
In response to the last question that was asked around finances, I would say that's a huge gap. When you ask what we think would be required for finances to implement this bill, we have no data around what is spent on our children in care. That's a huge gap for us. With regard to the data on the number of children in care, those kinds of things are fairly good.
I will say that often children who come into care early don't have beneficiary status. Social workers are not aware and don't apply for that status, so we miss children in that regard.
Liberal
Mike Bossio Liberal Hastings—Lennox and Addington, ON
I guess that's why I was asking the question.
What kind of guidance could you give to other indigenous communities around that data-gathering process? What procedures could be put in place in order to achieve that better, based on the MOU you have?
Deputy Minister, Health and Social Development, Nunatsiavut Government
One thing I would say is very important is that we don't ask on forms within government if a child is indigenous or Inuit. We really need to go back and ask those questions of both the parents. If one parent is Inuit, then that should cue social workers to make an application or to seek further information on whether the child is an indigenous child. Right from the time a child comes into contact with social workers, questions should be asked, not just about the child but about the birth parents of the child as well.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal MaryAnn Mihychuk
Okay.
I believe we have a recommendation from Mark.
You're going to send that to the clerk, and that will be for our consideration. I want to thank you.
To all of our guests, I want to say a special thank you for participating.
Your comments and views will be taken very seriously by the committee. They are on the public record.
Thank you so much. Meegwetch. Have a great day.
The meeting is adjourned.