Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee on May 8th, 2020

[Jamie Schmale, Conservative, Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON]

I'm sorry, Chair. I just conferred with my team. As long as there's no vote, we're okay with granting that extension while we excuse ourselves to attend national caucus.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bob Bratina]

I really appreciate that, Jamie.

[Jamie Schmale, Conservative, Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON]

No problem.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bob Bratina]

Thank you very much.

Mr. Van Koeverden will have five minutes, and then we'll conclude the third round with the Bloc and the New Democratic Party.

[Jamie Schmale, Conservative, Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON]

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you, witnesses, and thank you, everyone.

[National Chief Perry Bellegarde]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bob Bratina]

Go ahead, Mr. van Koeverden. You have five minutes.

[Adam van Koeverden, Liberal, Milton, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

A big thank you—merci, meegwetch, marsi, nakummek—to our witnesses today. Your presence here is really invaluable. We have limited opportunity to hear from leaders like you, so I'm really grateful for the opportunity.

I have a question that is specifically for you, Natan. You continually reference Inuit-specific measures to be taken. I'm wondering if you could speak to that just a little bit.

In light of the fact that time is quite limited today, I will then cede the rest of my time to the NDP members to use as they see fit. I think we have fantastic indigenous representation on this committee, and I want to make sure they are provided with the opportunity to ask questions.

Before I cede the rest of my time to the NDP, Mr. Obed, perhaps you could give us some perspective on Inuit-specific measures.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bob Bratina]

In view of that, let me interject by saying once you hand it over to Ms. Qaqqaq, I will allow her to continue in the second with the extra two and a half minutes she's entitled to. Then for the Bloc, Madame Bérubé you would conclude the round of questioning if that's okay.

[Natan Obed]

The biggest point for members of Parliament is the continued lack of continuity between federal departments when it comes to implementing a distinctions-based Inuit Nunangat approach to any sort of indigenous-specific matter. There are announcements almost every day. There are some amazing, different programs going on out there that specifically focus on COVID relief. Some work specifically through a rights-based, distinctions-based approach, and we work with that particular department. In other departments, we start from scratch.

Sometimes something has already been announced and already administrative structures have been put in place for Inuit-specific funds without any conversation with Inuit. When I say Inuit-specific in moving forward, it would be to harmonize and to ensure that no matter what dollar is being spent, no matter what department it's in, the same approach be used by the federal government. That would ensure that no matter what happens, the Inuit-specific response reaches the most people, uses the least amount of money and gets there in the quickest possible way.

[Adam van Koeverden, Liberal, Milton, ON]

Thank you.

It's over to you, Ms. Qaqqaq.

[Mumilaaq Qaqqaq, NDP, Nunavut, NU]

Mr. van Koeverden, I really appreciate the gesture. It's very nice.

Mr. Chair, I will be taking about five minutes and the rest of my two and half minutes, I will pass over to my colleague, MP Gazan, if that's okay, so I would have about a minute and a half.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bob Bratina]

He used part of his time. Let me give you four minutes now, including the two and a half. Closer to five. Does that work? Okay, go ahead.

[Mumilaaq Qaqqaq, NDP, Nunavut, NU]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Obed, we've heard of multiple different programs, like the Canada emergency response benefit, that individuals can apply for. One of the things I've been hearing consistently, and I'm hoping you can speak to this, is that we've been seeing a lot of people fall through those cracks, in particular artists and artisans. I talk about carvers and jewellers, and I'm hoping you can give this committee more insight as to what that looks like in Inuit Nunangat.

[Natan Obed]

We still rely very heavily on community-based economic structures, especially for our artists who are selling their carvings or their fine arts locally, and often through cash. Sometimes it is to tourists, sometimes to government workers and sometimes to suppliers who then sell them themselves, but it is largely an informal cash economy. The same thing goes for performers. These are people who are performing throat singing or singing. A large portion of our population wouldn't be able to quantify their loss of income in the same way that other Canadians might. That creates a huge difference in the way Inuit, especially Inuit artists, can apply for a number of these programs, whether it be for businesses or for individuals who have lost income. That is a major concern of ours.

[Mumilaaq Qaqqaq, NDP, Nunavut, NU]

I have one more quick thing before I pass to my colleague, Ms. Gazan.

When we discuss things in the north, a lot of things aren't very simply put, so to speak. What are some of the suggestions you would have around mental health services, something very much lacking throughout the northern Inuit Nunangat? Would you have some suggestions for committee members at the federal level for increasing those mental health services? What starting point would you suggest?

[Natan Obed]

I think it would be to get as much money to the community-based health support programs as you possibly can. Institutions that keep our communities healthy and well often need a number of different federal programs and provincial and territorial programs just to keep their doors open. Those types of community-based organizations are the rock that the mental health of the our communities depends on.

Any federal supports for community-based programs, whether they be for mental health or just community well-being, would be amazing.

[Mumilaaq Qaqqaq, NDP, Nunavut, NU]

Matna, Natan.

I'm going to pass it over to Ms. Gazan.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bob Bratina]

You have one minute. Go ahead.

[Leah Gazan, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

Thank you very much, Mumilaaq.

Thank you so much for your graciousness, Adam, and your generosity.

I have a question about clean drinking water.

The Minister of Crown–Indigenous Relations noted that indigenous people would be disproportionately affected by COVID-19. The disease has been detected in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Quebec first nations and the region of Nunangat. In 2010, in a report about lessons learned from the H1N1 pandemic, the government noted that limited access to running water has been a factor affecting the pandemic response in remote and isolated communities.

Last week in committee, when I asked a question about what the government was doing to ensure real action on ending boil water advisories, they said they would look into it. That was a concerning response considering the government indicated they would end those advisories by 2021.

I want to ask this of one of the panellists, since I know I don't have a lot of time. In your opinion, how has the failure of this government to end all water advisories, as they promised in 2015, contributed to and exacerbated the vulnerability and lack of preparedness on reserves during COVID?

[The Chair, Liberal, Bob Bratina]

I'm sorry, one person is going to have to give an answer to this. We're completely over time. I'd like a very brief answer, please.

[Leah Gazan, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

Thank you. I'm sorry, Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bob Bratina]

Could somebody answer, please?

[The Chair, Liberal, Bob Bratina]

Perhaps we can get a written answer to that, because this is running way over time. The Bloc has been kind enough to wait.

I'm going to ask the witnesses to give a written response to Ms. Gazan, which will then be incorporated into our witness testimony.

Madame Bérubé, you have two and a half minutes.

[Sylvie Bérubé, Bloc, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

My question is for President Natan Obed.

The Makivik Corporation spent $500,000 of the $11.25 million transferred to it for Inuit living in urban areas, particularly in Montreal. This is money that will not go to the people of Nunavik.

Without wanting to borrow from Peter to pay Paul, does this not show that the $15 million budgeted by the federal government to help indigenous people living off-reserve will be clearly insufficient?

I'd like to hear your thoughts on this.