Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee on Feb. 2nd, 2021

[National Chief Elmer St. Pierre]

Inherent rights is a really touchy subject for several reasons. We've never given up our inherent rights. What are they talking about when they say “inherent rights”? Do they mean our inherent right to go out and hunt and fish for our families, our inherent right to get a proper education, to get proper health care, proper housing? The term “inherent rights” is really broad. Unless we put something in there saying what “inherent rights” would mean, it's just like the Daniels case when it came down. It said that we're all Indians and that we should all be treated the same, and that hasn't happened yet.

If we want something passed under this bill, it would have to be pretty simple for the government to say yes, because when you say “inherent rights”, I would think that you're talking about just what I said: the hunting, the fishing and whatnot. That's my view on that.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

I would argue that the government, which has not followed the rights of the first nations, Inuit and Métis peoples, has caused a lot of the conflict. Had it actually recognized their inherent rights, perhaps we wouldn't be in those kinds of situations.

I think the purpose of the citizenship oath is to ensure that newcomers.... It feels like 600 years ago now that I as an immigrant joined with my family in swearing the citizenship oath and became a Canadian. Back then, it didn't have such language. There was no information, in fact, about Canada's history with the first nations, Inuit or Métis people.

This is, I hope, a step forward in providing that education, and through the citizenship oath, right at the outset for newcomers to know that the rights of indigenous peoples, the first nations, the Métis and the Inuit peoples must be respected at all times. I think that's the idea behind this. Of course, it speaks to the other calls to action under the TRC, and to how slowly those calls to action are being acted on. I think that is another critical question.

I would like to turn to the issue around to education.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bob Bratina]

You have 10 seconds, Ms. Kwan.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

In that case I will say thank you to the witnesses for their comments.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bob Bratina]

Thank you for your understanding.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

I'm sorry. I would like to raise this one point, Mr. Chair.

At the last meeting with the minister, because we had some technical difficulties and the minister had to leave early, we were asked to submit written questions to him, which I have done. We still haven't received a response yet.

Particularly, I was interested in getting the list of groups with which the government had consulted with respect to this bill and their comments related to it.

Can we get that information, Mr. Chair, before the deadline for submission of amendments, which is today at 4 p.m.?

[The Chair, Liberal, Bob Bratina]

I will put that message in as soon as we're finished here. Thank you for that.

As Ms. Kwan suggested, I want to thank our witnesses—Ms. Whitman, Mr. Cardinal and Mr. St. Pierre.

We're trying to get this done. We have a little more hard work to do, but hopefully, we can do it to everyone's satisfaction as hard as that is to do.

Once again, to our witnesses, thank you so much for your attendance today. It was great to have you with us.

Now we move on to the matter of the motion—

[Lenore Zann, Liberal, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

Thank you, Lorraine. It was good to see you.

[Lorraine Whitman]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bob Bratina]

Mr. Viersen, you have a motion. Would you state the motion, please?

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I would like to see if we can get a vote done today on this motion. I move:

Pursuant to standing order 108(2) the committee undertake a study on the cancellation of the Keystone XL pipeline and the potential loss of the Line 5 pipeline in northern and Indigenous communities, that the study take into account but not be limited to the impact on Indigenous businesses, jobs, economic prosperity, self-determination, and mutual benefit agreements as well as the efforts of the federal government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and that the committee report its findings to the House.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bob Bratina]

I see, on the speakers list, Mr. Anandasangaree.

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Scarborough—Rouge Park, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I would like to thank Mr. Viersen for bringing this study forward.

We have looked at the wording. I think this is a study that is well suited to be discussed at natural resources. I know a similar motion is there right now.

As a government, we recognize the importance of Keystone, and we've advocated for it for a number of years, as the Prime Minister and our ministers have reiterated. I think a study of it is definitely warranted, but through the natural resources committee and not through here.

We are willing to dispose of the matter today if we're able to go to a vote.

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

I would say that I specifically worded this motion so that it would definitely be in the wheelhouse of this committee. This is an urgent matter as the decision has just been made. I think there is an ability for the government to continue to pursue.... The Keystone XL pipeline, that one may have been passed, but Line 5 is an urgent matter that needs to be addressed by the government.

There are treaties in place that would allow for redress on this, and I would love for this committee to study this forthwith.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bob Bratina]

Seeing no further speakers, I'd like to call the vote on this. We can do this simply by a show of hands or on division, or we can ask the clerk to take the poll.

Could I ask those in favour of the motion to put your hand up so that I can see it on the screen?

(Motion negatived)

Ladies and gentlemen, we now have Mr. Anandasangaree.

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Scarborough—Rouge Park, ON]

Yes, in response to Ms. Kwan's question at the end, they are working diligently to get the information to her as soon as possible.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Thank you very much for that.

In light of the fact that we were supposed to submit our amendments by 4 p.m. today and we have not received all of the information that I think we should have, I just want to make sure, then, from the committee, that if submissions for amendments do not meet the 4 p.m. eastern timeline, we would still be able to do so.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bob Bratina]

Let me ask the clerk for an opinion.

[The Clerk]

Any member of the committee can move an amendment on the floor during clause-by-clause. The deadline will still apply to any non-members of the committee, but for members of the committee who do miss that deadline, it will just mean that their amendment may not be included in the package of amendments that is prepared by the legislative services. They still have the right to bring an amendment to the floor during clause-by-clause.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bob Bratina]

Is that okay?

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Thank you very much.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bob Bratina]

Thank you very much.

Thank you to all the members of the committee. We have a busy Thursday ahead of us, and we will see all of you then.

The meeting is adjourned.