Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee on April 14th, 2016

[Cathy McLeod, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC]

I'll use my last minute to thank you again for a very frank and fruitful discussion.

[The Chair, Liberal, Andy Fillmore]

Cathy, with your leftover time and this clock being a bit fast, we can squeeze in one more three-minute question.

Romeo Saganash is willing to ask a question. Mr. Saganash, I'd urge you to get quickly to the question.

[Romeo Saganash, NDP, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC]

Thank you.

[Member speaks in his native language]

I think Chief Day has spoken about the political accord they have in Ontario and how that's brought immediate action on the ground.

I'm fortunate enough to come from a region where we have a comprehensive land claims agreement. That James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement is a global approach, a comprehensive approach: housing, infrastructure, policing, justice, economic development.

We're talking short term, I recognize, but shouldn't the long term be one of the models we could consider? We don't have to necessarily take everything, but at least the principles around an agreement like the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement.

[Chief Isadore Day]

Thank you, Romeo.

Today I referenced the James Bay agreement as well as out west, knowing those two regions are more advanced; and there is an economy, things are happening. There's autonomy and there's recognition, “nothing about us without us”.

We need to recognize that where there are treaties—numbered treaties as well as pre-Confederation treaties—I think the government has to extend more effort to try to fix some of the systemic issues there because we're locked in conflict. We need to get the political will from government to say let's move beyond; as the grand chief said: Let's not live in the past, let's move forward.

Will we have an opportunity for one more comment, Mr. Chair?

[The Chair, Liberal, Andy Fillmore]

This is your opportunity.

[Chief Isadore Day]

Thank you. We're here to ask the committee to fully accept our recommendations and ensure that government implements them ASAP, which is why there will be follow-up from us at the Chiefs of Ontario. Again, I want to thank the committee and my colleagues for their work and their guidance. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Just quickly, my colleague asked me to make sure that we get the reports that were referenced today to all our committee members so that we can study them.

[The Chair, Liberal, Andy Fillmore]

Thank you.

Do you have a final word, Grand Chief Fiddler?

[Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler]

I just want to thank the committee for allowing us to be here today to present to you our issues or solutions.

I also want to acknowledge my friend Charlie for all the work he has done, for calling on Parliament to have a debate. That was historic. I was watching it on TV, and I couldn't believe that I would live to see that. We need to build on that. We have a good start here. Let's build on it.

I always say this. I always talk about my kids, all our kids, and they deserve more; they deserve better.

Thank you for being here.

[The Chair, Liberal, Andy Fillmore]

Thank you.

We're not adjourned yet, but I want to thank you very much for your moving and meaningful presentations and your responses on this most human of issues. I want to assure you that what you've shared with us will get into a report and will go the House of Commons so that this Parliament can act.

May I have a motion to adjourn, please?

[An hon. member]

I so move.

[The Chair, Liberal, Andy Fillmore]

It is so moved.

We are adjourned. Thank you very much.