Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee on May 22nd, 2020

[Tara Campbell]

I do share those concerns, just because, as you mentioned, the outbreak in the La Loche area did start with somebody coming from a work camp. I think more has to be done with respect even to limiting travel between the provinces. If individuals work outside—for instance, in an Alberta work camp—they should be given considerations with respect to not attending work or whatnot. Cameco, in the northern part of the province, does have camps, but it is on minimal staff right now, so I know leaders have taken precautions to try to minimize transmission. As well, they've provided supports to communities to help combat COVID-19. I know there is stuff being done.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bob Bratina]

That's our time right there.

Thanks, Ms. Campbell.

We're going now to a five-minute round.

The speakers on my list are Mr. Viersen, Mr. Battiste, Mr. Zimmer and Mr. van Koeverden.

Mr. Viersen, you have five minutes. Please go ahead.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you very much to all our guests for appearing with us today. It's much appreciated.

I'm going to start with Ms. Campbell.

Given the fact that everyone is at home right now, everyone is spending a lot more time online. We know that our children in particular have been spending a lot more time online. This is increasing the risk of sexual exploitation.

Has your organization put any measures in place—I heard about the bingo thing a little bit earlier—to help educate our children to stay safe online?

[Tara Campbell]

We haven't really talked about the online presence of children specifically, but we do promote using social media, even despite some of our communities not having the greatest Internet to begin with. We try to spread messages through Facebook or our website to try to get to as many people as we can.

The other thing we use is radio ads to promote things by other than electronic means to get them out into the community.

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

That reduces screen time.

Have there been any initiatives coming from the federal government around this?

[Tara Campbell]

There are none that I'm aware of at this moment.

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

I'll pursue the same line of questioning with the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Health and Social Services Commission.

Ms. Siouï.

[Marjolaine Siouï]

I would say that we're very fortunate in Quebec that we have those regional organizations that are in support of the communities. A lot of those initiatives came from the communities themselves. Also, at a regional level, we have the First Nations Education Council that works with the schools. We also have, in our own organization, the whole support that comes for the educators in day care. It's the same with the Institut Tshakapesh, which is supporting the Innu communities. Those organizations have been working very closely with all of the communities in Quebec in providing activities live on Facebook, work activities that people can do, parent activities. We also set up a website specifically on COVID-19, on which all of the organizations are creating tools and links and some webinars. Many good initiatives have been put in place.

We also created on our website a forum through which each community has its place so it can share with other communities all of the good things and good practices that are in place.

We do have a network with first-line services, prevention services. We are in contact with those workers at the community level on a constant basis. I think everybody is working together and making it safer for those families and children.

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

Thank you.

Chief Picard, I'm sure it's similar in your neck of the woods. Where I'm from, most of the first nations communities have blockaded the roads in and out. That seems to have worked. However, there are some concerns with inconsistencies in terms of who may travel in and who may travel out.

Have you heard anything on that? How have your communities managed maintaining the blockades on the roads so that only those who should be coming in and going out have been coming in and going out?

[The Chair, Liberal, Bob Bratina]

You have one minute.

[Chief Ghislain Picard]

Excuse me, Mr. Chair.

In a way, we are guided in part by public health authorities in Quebec. As for the chiefs, they have been extremely proactive and they have come up with their own directives.

At the height of the crisis two weeks ago, at least 30 communities out of 43 really controlled access to the community, if not completely closed off access to the community. That is what's working, that is what's preventing the spread of the virus. In fact, anyone who has followed the news knows that the community of Kanesatake, located about 40 minutes from Montreal, has taken the same action in Oka Provincial Park and that the objectives in relation to vulnerable populations were the same.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bob Bratina]

We're at time. Thank you very much. I'm sorry to interrupt, but we need to stay as close as possible to our time.

We have another five-minute question round with Mr. Battiste.

Go ahead, please, for five minutes.

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

You're still on mute, Jaime.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bob Bratina]

There's something that sounds like a tuning guitar. Does anyone hear that?

I'll start your time again, but there's something strange happening. And you're not tuning your guitar, so—

[Jaime Battiste, Liberal, Sydney—Victoria, NS]

I'm not playing my guitar. They're in the other room, Mr. Chair. I've been consistent with not playing my guitar while on committee, thank you very much.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bob Bratina]

I hear birds as well.

Go ahead for five minutes.

[Jaime Battiste, Liberal, Sydney—Victoria, NS]

I would like to give Ghislain the opportunity to answer the question from my colleague, Mr. Viersen.

We're noticing that communities are taking jurisdiction to keep their communities safe through the bylaws that are within the Indian Act.

How are they able to enforce that? Continue your thought process, please.

[Chief Ghislain Picard]

At the risk of repeating myself, I think that we have a reality that is not the same as that of other Quebeckers or other Canadians.

Mr. Battiste, Ms. Campbell and I understand each other in this regard. We're familiar with these situations.

I think that in this case the chiefs found themselves in situations where they had no choice but to make extremely radical decisions to control access to their community in order to prevent the spread of the virus.

Ms. Siouï gave us some numbers earlier. With about 30 cases and two deaths in Quebec, if we compare our situation to the situation elsewhere in Quebec, proportionally speaking, we get much better results, with extremely limited means. Imagine what we could do if we had both the structural and financial means.

[Jaime Battiste, Liberal, Sydney—Victoria, NS]

Thank you, Ghislain.

You also spoke about government and first nations working together to solve some of these problems. I'm wondering about best practices. I also want to reflect on the fact that two days ago, Lenore Zann and I were part of an MPs and chiefs discussion to collaborate and work together. In this new reality of Zoom, are the Quebec chiefs also meeting through Zoom?

Are all communities able to access the Internet and Zoom or web conferencing to help make these discussions...? Everyone used to travel. Now we're able to arrange an hour's video conference.

Is this an effective way of communicating? Do you find it's getting the job done in Quebec?

[Chief Ghislain Picard]

In 10 days' time, on June 2 and 4, we will hold our first official chiefs' meeting by Zoom. It's the new way of doing things, it's the new reality. That's the direction we're going in. No one, you or I, can predict how long this will last. All we know is that we have to prepare for the long term. As we discussed earlier, the Assembly of First Nations Annual General Assembly will not take place in July. The North American Indigenous Games will not take place in July in Halifax. That is unfortunate, but that is the situation we are facing. It forces us to give ourselves new ways of doing things, because there are always challenges. Housing is one of them and there are many others. Our engagement with governments is also framed by this new reality.

[Jaime Battiste, Liberal, Sydney—Victoria, NS]

How much time do I have, Mr. Chair?

[The Chair, Liberal, Bob Bratina]

You have one minute.

[Jaime Battiste, Liberal, Sydney—Victoria, NS]

I wonder if you could speak a little about some of the mental health challenges going on in Quebec. We know that mental health is an issue in indigenous communities during regular times, but how about during COVID? Have you seen an increase in the need for mental health services?

[Chief Ghislain Picard]

I will let Ms. SiouÏ answer that question, if you don't mind.

[Marjolaine Siouï]

Thank you.

So far, things are going fairly well, I would say, although we did see two murders over the most recent weeks, unfortunately, and a couple of suicides as well. That is always unfortunate.

I would say that most communities have access to mental wellness teams and to intervenors and workers. We do have a network in support of those resources. Of course, everybody is tired right now, because it's been going on for quite a while, but the work is about keeping an eye on that and making sure there is a safety net for communities.

In terms of violence, many people said that we could expect an increase, but we don't necessarily have the numbers right now—