Evidence of meeting #6 for Indigenous and Northern Affairs in the 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was pandemic.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Clerk of the Committee  Ms. Evelyn Lukyniuk
Tom Wong  Chief Medical Officer and Director General, Office of Population and Public Health, Department of Indigenous Services
Daniel Watson  Deputy Minister, Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs
Jean-François Tremblay  Deputy Minister, Department of Indigenous Services
Valerie Gideon  Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, Department of Indigenous Services
Jeff Moore  Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Policy and Strategic Direction Sector, Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs

3:50 p.m.

Conservative

Bob Zimmer Conservative Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC

I would like a response as to why the minister would implement or go through with a memorandum of understanding—

The Chair Liberal Bob Bratina

That's not part of this discussion today. Do you have a question that relates to COVID?

3:50 p.m.

Conservative

Bob Zimmer Conservative Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC

With respect—

3:50 p.m.

Conservative

Jamie Schmale Conservative Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Liberal Bob Bratina

Go ahead.

3:50 p.m.

Conservative

Jamie Schmale Conservative Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON

It's my understanding, Chair, that it's not the job of the chair to censor the questions. It's Mr. Zimmer's time. He has his full five minutes to say whatever he absolutely want. It's his turn.

The Chair Liberal Bob Bratina

Well, that's—

3:50 p.m.

Conservative

Jamie Schmale Conservative Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON

No one's had an objection from the other side. It's not the job of the chair, is my understanding—

The Chair Liberal Bob Bratina

It is the job of the chair—

Gary Anandasangaree Liberal Scarborough—Rouge Park, ON

I have a point of order. I think Mr. Bratina is responding to that. The issue here is that the scope of the study that we're undertaking is limited to COVID-19 and the government's response to it. There are a lot of issues that this committee ought to be seized with and should be discussing, including the issue that's been brought forward by Mr. Schmale and Mr. Zimmer, but this is not the appropriate study or the time to do that, and we would be glad to entertain those at a later date.

At this moment, what's important is that we continue the discussion limited to COVID, and I'm asking members and the chair to make sure that these conversations are limited to COVID-19.

3:50 p.m.

Conservative

Jamie Schmale Conservative Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON

This is going on during COVID. This pandemic is happening, and these elected chiefs are trying to speak up.

The Chair Liberal Bob Bratina

Mr. Schmale—

3:50 p.m.

Conservative

Bob Zimmer Conservative Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC

I'll speak to the point of order, if I could.

The Chair Liberal Bob Bratina

Go ahead.

3:50 p.m.

Conservative

Bob Zimmer Conservative Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC

I think this is exactly a COVID issue, because it's brought up at a time when COVID has limited person-to-person contact between the Wet'suwet'en people and the ministry, yet the ministry is trying to slide this under the door and get it done without consultation with the Wet'suwet'en people.

I was texted yesterday with urgency by Theresa Tait-Day, who, as we all know, is a chief who is very concerned about her community. The elected chiefs of the Wet'suwet'en also brought this concern to me with desperation that this has been again slid under the door under their watch, and it's going ahead without their approval. If this isn't something COVID-related.... It is exactly COVID-related, and the government shouldn't be doing this during this time.

The Chair Liberal Bob Bratina

First of all, in response to Mr. Schmale's comments, the chair is in control of the agenda. If there is a disagreement, and chairs make rulings.... I was the mayor of the City of Hamilton, and this issue comes up often in council meetings when people take the matter in a different direction. If my suggestion or my ruling is not permitted, then you can challenge the chair, and we'll vote on it to see whether or not my ruling stands.

We've already used up very valuable time, and I'm not sure that.... The COVID crisis, in terms of the potential loss of life and destruction of the economy, is what we were asked to do when we came forward with this series of committee meetings, so I'm going to stand by the comment I made.

Do you have any other questions or comments outside of the Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs' issue? If you do, please go ahead.

3:50 p.m.

Conservative

Bob Zimmer Conservative Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC

I will pass the rest of my time to Mr. Viersen.

3:55 p.m.

Conservative

Arnold Viersen Conservative Peace River—Westlock, AB

Thank you, Bob. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I too have a question. The Sucker Creek First Nation in my community has suffered a loss due to COVID. Driftpile has its first case. Many first nations in my region have been in total lockdown, and now I'm getting reports that even getting food in there has been a bit of a challenge, particularly in north Tallcree. I just wanted to put that on the radar of the departmental officials.

Mr. Chair, given the fact that this COVID is going on, and we're all seized with it and overwhelmed with the COVID response, I would say that I think it's disgusting that today the Liberal government is doing a firearms announcement. This is outrageous, and I guess I have two questions around that.

Has there been a first nation response or consultation? Are there any indigenous exemptions that are coming with this firearms announcement today?

Pam Damoff Liberal Oakville North—Burlington, ON

I have a point of order, Chair.

The Chair Liberal Bob Bratina

Go ahead.

Pam Damoff Liberal Oakville North—Burlington, ON

I fail to see how this has anything to do with the government's response to COVID-19. It's similar to the previous question. There are a lot of issues we could have conversations about in other places, but the firearms legislation isn't part of the government response to COVID-19.

3:55 p.m.

Conservative

Arnold Viersen Conservative Peace River—Westlock, AB

It definitely seems to be, Mr. Chair, as the government spent most of the morning making this announcement.

I'd ask Mr. Watson if he knows whether there are any indigenous exemptions and whether first nations were consulted on this.

Leah Gazan NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Liberal Bob Bratina

Go ahead.

Leah Gazan NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB

We have critical issues to discuss around COVID-19, life-and-death matters, and I think we need to use the time we're all committing to—