Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee on Nov. 28th, 2016

[Rémi Massé, Liberal, Avignon—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Welcome, Minister. I too would like to thank you for taking part in the committee's work and activities. Your presence is greatly appreciated.

I also thank all of your employees who, I know, work hard in order to prepare you to answer our questions.

I would like to go back to the topic of primary and secondary education. Two Micmac communities in my riding have put in place a Micmac language immersion program. This is to me an extraordinary initiative. This immersion program will allow the community to reappropriate its language and also to get back in touch with its culture.

In the supplementary estimates there is a request for $244 million in grants and contributions for additional investments in education.

I would like to know what programs and activities will be funded through this supplementary estimate.

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, Toronto—St. Paul's, ON]

Thank you for the question.

One again, I congratulate the Micmac communities for their good work on their language and their immersion program. That is absolutely fantastic.

As for the additional funds, they will be used for language and culture programs. There is also education, special training...

[Diane Lafleur]

Specialized training.

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, Toronto—St. Paul's, ON]

We are talking about specialized training.

[Diane Lafleur]

That is correct.

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, Toronto—St. Paul's, ON]

This is training aimed at young people with difficulties...

[The Chair, Liberal, Andy Fillmore]

You have one minute left, Madam Minister.

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, Toronto—St. Paul's, ON]

...and special needs. There are also programs to ensure the children's success. There is also...

my favourite French word

...everything involving literacy.

[Rémi Massé, Liberal, Avignon—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, QC]

Bravo. That is very good.

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, Toronto—St. Paul's, ON]

I don't know how many syllables it has, but it's a mouthful.

Ms. Lafleur, did you have something else to add?

[Diane Lafleur]

If this is what you want and what interests you, Mr. Massé, we can indicate the amount of funding for each school level.

[Rémi Massé, Liberal, Avignon—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, QC]

You could send us the information later.

[Diane Lafleur]

We can send it to you afterwards. It will be my pleasure.

[Rémi Massé, Liberal, Avignon—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, QC]

Thank you.

Mr. Chair, may I ask one last question?

[The Chair, Liberal, Andy Fillmore]

I am sorry, but your time has elapsed.

We're going to five-minute questions now.

The next question is Arnold Viersen's, please.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I'm going to go back to the transparency act here. It seems interesting that you haven't repealed the transparency act. It seems like a basic democratic rule, the rule of law, but by not enforcing it, you're indicating that there are some laws to be followed and some laws that aren't to be followed.

I understand that you have other priorities, and that's laudable, but it's also interesting that the very first piece of legislation that we deal with has three—Perry Bellegarde, the Native Women's Association's interim president, Francyne Joe, and the Quebec Native Women association—who all come out against it. I push back against the idea that it's paternalistic to demand transparency on fiscal issues. Could you comment on my assertion that the very first democratic principle is the principle of the rule of law?

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, Toronto—St. Paul's, ON]

That's a great question. As you know, we committed to a full review of all the laws and programs in terms of making sure that they honour the rights of indigenous people in Canada. The review of the laws is taking place, but it has to be done in partnership with first nations, Inuit, and Métis. It's not only the laws in my department.

I made a decision not to punish first nations' communities because by doing that, you punish the people. Enforcing it meant that there would be fewer program dollars for education, housing, all of those things, so we elected to put in a review. Obviously, it's a priority. We also want to make sure that we're working with first nations to develop a transparency and an accountability plan to replace it.

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

It seems that the very first piece of legislation you bring out is Bill S-3, and they're already claiming that you're not doing that for that. Why are you not enforcing the law on the transparency issue while you're consulting, but they're saying on Bill S-3 that you didn't even consult? How can we have the some confidence that you're doing that?

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, Toronto—St. Paul's, ON]

I look forward to a long conversation about that next week, but as you know, Descheneaux is a little different because it's court ordered—

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

Oh, I know.

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, Toronto—St. Paul's, ON]

—and we have to have an amendment to the Indian Act by February 3.

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

Yes.

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, Toronto—St. Paul's, ON]

Again, we consulted with the people affected but we are going to do better. We are going to begin consultation on all the other discrimination in the Indian Act on February 4. We will begin the consultation because this one—

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

But that's no consolation for Charmaine Stick, who is on a hunger strike right now to get the information from her band.

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, Toronto—St. Paul's, ON]

Yes.