Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee on March 8th, 2016

[Michael McLeod, Liberal, Northwest Territories, NT]

Thank you, and thank you all for coming here to present to us.

I have been involved with the friendship centres for a lot of years. I see the importance of having a friendship centre in the communities and the work that they've done. I appreciate the fact that they work independently of all other political organizations. In a lot of cases we're seeing the friendship centre as an organization that's moving forward on many things in the communities on the social end of things: setting up community gardens, promoting languages, delivering programs that deal with suicide, doing things on the homelessness front, and addressing alcohol programs.

I worked in the NWT friendship centre program. I wanted to ask about adequacy of funding. I saw what we were getting about 20 years ago, and in talking to members recently, I was surprised at how little things have changed since then. Maybe you could tell me a little about that.

[Jeffrey Cyr]

I'd love to tell you about at. Frankly, friendship centre programming funding levels haven't changed in roughly 30 years, or since at least the mid to late 1980s. There has been some adjustment and realignment of what the funding was meant to do under different governments over time, but the basic level hasn't changed.

We are having discussions with the current government about streamlining the programming so that it makes a little more sense. We've had some experience over the last number of years with it. What we need to see is effectively a doubling of core funding. We have a tonne of analysis of friendship centre core funding needs and requests on an operational level. Across the country it averages about $383,700. Some are on the lower end of the scale; some are on the higher end. Some friendship centres have 200 employees; some have seven. You have to put it in perspective.

We are asking for a significant commitment to that programming base on core funding, which makes all the difference in the world. It leverages the partnerships and all that other provincial funding. It represents a significant investment in infrastructure in some 238 buildings owned by 119 friendship centres across this country.

We've had some positive conversations and we're looking forward to continuing them. We're a little concerned about time, as everyone is. We'd like to move a little quicker than we're moving. We understand that it's a new government. We're working with officials and trying to do as much homework as we can to put everything in people's hands to make it effective. We're having a huge impact on the lives of indigenous people every single day: food, prenatal, postnatal, elder care, cultural transmission, high school programming, suicide prevention, you name it. It's across the board. We want to continue to do that good work and stay out of the political fray.

Thanks very much.

[Michael McLeod, Liberal, Northwest Territories, NT]

I have one quick question for the Indigenous Peoples' Assembly of Canada. The new title, I didn't know it was in the works so I'm a bit surprised. Congratulations.

I hear you talking about a protocol. I've heard aboriginal governments talk about the nation-to-nation concept, including the Kelowna Accord. Is your expectation to sign an actual agreement with the government? Is your expectation to see the Kelowna Accord as a separate agreement, or is it to see elements of the accord brought forward and just a better working relationship?

[Chief Dwight Dorey]

I can't give you a definitive answer, because I don't know what is being discussed or put out there. I've heard about a Kelowna-like agreement. I can tell you that I was the national head of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples at the Kelowna meeting, and I could not sign on to support that agreement. In particular the reason was that the distinction-based process in section 35—Indians, Inuit, and Métis—leaves so many people out, hundreds of thousands. That's the reason I refer to the word “includes” in my presentation, because that was put in there to make sure nobody would be left out. Here we are with that situation. That's the problem with it.

In terms of any further information that members of this committee would like to see, I will make myself available one on one. All you have to do is get in touch with me and I'll come talk to you. Thank you very much.

[The Chair, Liberal, Andy Fillmore]

Thank you very much.

Thanks to all of you for making time today and for bearing with us in our unexpectedly shortened meeting. I very much appreciate your forbearance.

Thank you to the committee members for agreeing to stay a few minutes late.

The meeting is adjourned.