Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee on Feb. 23rd, 2017

[Hélène Laurendeau]

We haven't calculated it right now, but we are working with Environment Canada to make sure that the impact is being assessed, particularly for northerners, as part of the pan-Canadian framework.

[Paul Thoppil]

That is being done together with ITK, to ensure that we take traditional knowledge on the impacts of climate change into account in those areas as well.

[David Yurdiga, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

There are no allowances in the estimates. Is that correct?

[Hélène Laurendeau]

In our department's estimates, no, but there is activity through the pan-Canadian framework that would be with Environment Canada.

[David Yurdiga, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Referring back to the nutrition north program, it will be a significant cost to families that will have to pay these costs, so in reality, if it's not in the estimates, a lot of these people will actually be getting less of a subsidy to cover the cost. Is that correct?

[Hélène Laurendeau]

I don't think there would be necessarily a direct link for this year, but part of the reform that we're planning to do with nutrition north, as the minister said, is to make sure that we engage and factor the costs of having nutritious and healthy food provided to northerners, including harvesting capacity in the north.

[David Yurdiga, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Are there no allowances for the extra costs in the nutrition north program?

[Hélène Laurendeau]

There was some improvement with the addition of new communities for this year, and we are in the process of engaging to reform the program.

[David Yurdiga, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

What kind of increase are we seeing in the nutrition north program? Is there extra money for the additional communities added to the program?

[Hélène Laurendeau]

Yes, there is, and the program also has an escalator to make sure that it keeps up with the cost of living. Through those two things, the injection of money—the addition of new communities—plus the escalator, we have injected funding for this year, and we're in the process of reforming, as the minister said.

[David Yurdiga, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Moving on to the supplementary estimates (C), there is a request for an allocation of $1.3 million for promoting the safe use, development, conservation, and protection of the north's natural resources and promoting scientific development. But I know that just two months ago, the government banned oil and gas development in the Arctic without consulting anyone. I hope this is not a pattern.

How has the department engaged northerners in natural resource conservation and development?

[Paul Thoppil]

Thank you for the question.

It's essentially through the supplementary estimates item that we just referenced when I was talking to Mr. McLeod, which is through these community-based workshops under the ARES studies to assess the environmental impact in these kinds of pristine areas.

[David Yurdiga, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

I realize that, but I'm talking about whether the money is moving forward. Is that going to promote more consultation?

[Hélène Laurendeau]

That is the purpose.

[David Yurdiga, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

For what specific resource development activities will we see funding under the requested allocation?

[Hélène Laurendeau]

Did you mean resource development activity per se?

[David Yurdiga, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Yes, resource development activities.

[Hélène Laurendeau]

It's not the purpose. The purpose is to engage on the impact. The purpose of that particular funding is not to fund resource development activity per se.

[David Yurdiga, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Is it just for consultation only?

[Hélène Laurendeau]

That's correct.

[David Yurdiga, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

We see a lot of issues in the north regarding housing, and we're going to see a significant increase in costs with the implementation of the carbon tax. I'm just curious, is the carbon tax part of the equation moving forward when it comes to getting homes built in the north? It's very expensive. It's not only the cost of bringing material in, but also transporting skilled workers. There are many things involved. Are there any provisions allotted for that?

[Paul Thoppil]

We are striving to budget for homes to ensure that we address the costs of homes delivered to the north in order to deal with the overcrowding situation.

[David Yurdiga, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

But if we look at the cost per home, and say it's $200,000, or whatever it may be, now with the carbon tax, it's going to cost, say, an additional $20,000 or $30,000. So when you're looking at building a couple of thousand homes, if there's no money allotted for that, there will be fewer homes built. We want to reassure northerners that they're going to get the homes that were promised by the government.

[Hélène Laurendeau]

The ones that are being provided for this year have already been costed, and we're going to be reassessing if there are higher costs needed for building housing. For this year, covered by those estimates, we know what the costs are and we are providing that level of funding.

[The Chair, Liberal, MaryAnn Mihychuk]

Thank you.

Questioning now moves to MP Saganash.