Evidence of meeting #21 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 million.
A video is available from Parliament.
4:45 p.m.
Liberal
Gary Anandasangaree Liberal Scarborough—Rouge Park, ON
I'm going to ask you to put your doctor hat on, or professor hat. We're hearing about the lack of indigenous doctors, and the discussion we had last time was about psychiatrists.
What do we need to do, how do we recruit, and how do we make sure we have people going through the system who will eventually build that capacity that we're talking about? How do we get there?
4:45 p.m.
Liberal
Carolyn Bennett Liberal Toronto—St. Paul's, ON
Gary, I think I've been worrying about this for all the time I've been here, but I think that organizations like the Indigenous Physicians Association of Canada have ended up with MOUs with the AFN. We have to get kids excited about that.
I have to say that in the early days, all the brightest and best kids wanted to be lawyers because of land claims, and we actually have to persuade them that being a doctor or an engineer or all of these other things is also exciting.
First we have to make sure these kids are finishing high school, but we need role models in place. I think we can do that with virtual classrooms, exposing kids to great indigenous doctors, great indigenous nurse practitioners, and great social workers, even online, even if they don't have somebody in their home community.
People like Dr. Evan Adams and Dr. Alika Lafontaine are amazing people. So is Dr. Marcia Anderson in Manitoba.
4:45 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Andy Fillmore
The final question is a three-minute question from Charlie Angus, please.
4:45 p.m.
NDP
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Madam Minister.
I want to follow up on my colleague's questions regarding our testimony with Cindy Blackstock. She came for the supplementary estimates (A) because there wasn't any money for Jordan's principle. In the following supplementary estimates, will we see money for Jordan's principle?
4:45 p.m.
Liberal
Carolyn Bennett Liberal Toronto—St. Paul's, ON
Absolutely. We are absolutely committed to broadening the definition of Jordan's principle and making sure this happens.
We are going to honour what was in Jordan's principle, which we all voted for, and it means the provinces and territories have to work together. We'll make sure those kids get what they need.
As you know, in the present definition, not one case qualified. That is unacceptable, so we are very much taking to ourselves the broader definition in terms of children with need, not some funny formula that makes sure nobody qualifies.
4:45 p.m.
NDP
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
Well, thank you, because we're still seeing children being denied orthodontics at 99% and 100%. I know that's over in Health Canada, but if we don't see money for Jordan's principle, the denials are going to have to continue.
I want to ask about child welfare. The government has identified $121 million. Cindy Blackstock puts it at $200 million, but the government has only $71 million, so even in five years the shortfall will still be higher than what the government has put as its minimum base.
She said to our committee that the government is closer to being in contempt of Parliament than being in compliance. How do you get there if in five years you're still not going to be meeting the needs?
4:45 p.m.
Liberal
Carolyn Bennett Liberal Toronto—St. Paul's, ON
I think, again, that we are committed to changing the system and putting reforms in place. We also know that right now we're paying other families to look after kids who are being taken from their families because of poverty. We have got to change this system, and we're going to get it done.
It was really important to ramp up the money, and then we will get this done in terms of.... There will be the adequate money for the provinces and territories to fund this adequately, and also to fund healing for the moms so that they go be back being moms again.
4:45 p.m.
NDP
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
I have to cut it. They give me only three minutes. This guy is a tough guy, so this is my last question.
I just want to get this straight on the issue of the temporary investments, the money that's flowing.
You say the 2% cap is off on base funding. What have you identified as the escalator, then, to address all that base funding that right now is only at 2%? Is that in the budget for this year?
4:50 p.m.
Liberal
Carolyn Bennett Liberal Toronto—St. Paul's, ON
Charlie, again, the base funding piece is separate from the program funding.
4:50 p.m.
Liberal
Carolyn Bennett Liberal Toronto—St. Paul's, ON
The program funding used to be capped, and that's where we got into big problems on—
4:50 p.m.
NDP
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
The base funding has been capped for 20 years, so do you have an escalator?
4:50 p.m.
NDP
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
Yes, but I'm looking at the base funding. Do you have an escalator for it?
4:50 p.m.
Liberal
Carolyn Bennett Liberal Toronto—St. Paul's, ON
Program by program.... A lot of it will be at 20% in—
4:50 p.m.
NDP
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
I have 2% here, and this is what you gave me. I just wonder if there is an escalator. That's all I'm asking for.
4:50 p.m.
Liberal
Carolyn Bennett Liberal Toronto—St. Paul's, ON
Charlie, base funding is not how much money is flowing. It is the beginning. It's no less than 2%. Then we get to add on all these exciting dollars program by program on the various things—
4:50 p.m.
Liberal