Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee on Nov. 19th, 2020

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

You are referring implicitly to the 2019 throne speech and the 5% target. It was in either the throne speech or Minister Anand's mandate letter. I am actually meeting with Ms. Anand and Minister Duclos in the next few days to see what the federal government can do to make sure indigenous businesses receive their fair share of federal procurement spending—5%. That isn't happening now. It's very uneven. The target applies to not just Indigenous Services Canada, but also all departments.

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

You brought up the COVID-19 cases affecting communities all over the country. Nunavik's case count is growing. At first it had two, and now the number of cases stands at 29, if I'm not mistaken.

Have you put out an alert? Do the people there have the resources they need to stave off a second wave more serious than the first?

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

We are maintaining our commitment. Today I spoke with Natan Obed about the specific needs of Inuit, including those in Nunavik. We are putting together a funding package tomorrow for Nunavut, which is experiencing a major increase in cases, as we've seen on the news. In my opening statement, I mentioned that it had 70 confirmed positive cases, and I fear that the number is going to rise.

We are committed to working closely with the Quebec government to provide appropriate medical resources and funding to Nunavik or the Nunavut government.

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

Thank you.

You have good co-operation with the community chiefs in northern Quebec.

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

I have very good co-operation with the supporters and the communities that have signed territorial arrangements. We can always improve our relationship to streamline feedback and resource deployment. I hope it's not too bold of me to say that we have a very good relationship.

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

Mr. Chair, how much time do I have left?

[The Chair, Liberal, Bob Bratina]

You have one minute.

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

I want to follow up on Nunavik. In Eeyou Istchee, little development is happening in light of the pandemic. There is little support for air transportation or roadways. Winter is fast approaching in our neck of the woods.

What steps can you take to avert disaster in those areas, with the second wave on its way?

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

That's a very pertinent question for the entire country. Regional air transportation is an essential service. We have allocated a number of funding envelopes for that purpose. You brought up Nunavik. Discussions with the Quebec government are necessary to ensure the continuity of air transportation in the Inuit territories affected. Discussions with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador are also necessary.

Since the crisis began, we have been working to keep air service going and supply communities with essential goods, especially medical equipment. We want to make sure small air carriers that are struggling financially can survive. There are numbers to back this up, but I don't have them with me.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bob Bratina]

Thank you. We'll end it there.

We're moving on to Ms. Blaney now, and we'll perhaps pick up those numbers later, Minister.

Ms. Blaney, please go ahead for six minutes.

[Rachel Blaney, NDP, North Island—Powell River, BC]

Thank you, Chair, and thank you, Minister, and your team, for being here with us this evening.

Minister, yesterday, in response to the question I asked in question period about systemic racism in health care, the Prime Minister said that your government is working on indigenous health care legislation, and he believes this will assist with racism.

When we can look forward to seeing this legislation?

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

Thank you, MP Blaney.

First, I'd like to take this opportunity to congratulate you on your appointment, as well as the recent briefing with my team on Bill C-92, which I know is near and dear to everyone's heart on this committee.

This is an exceedingly difficult topic, and particularly because of what we've seen in the last month or so with respect to indigenous people. While it was a shock to non-indigenous people in Canada, it was not shocking, but a repeating pattern of a lived experience to indigenous people, who are treated badly and poorly and are subject to systemic racism across the health care system.

This is something that, as you well remember, was announced in the Speech from the Throne. COVID, again, like many things, has just exacerbated the reality.

In terms of putting forward health care legislation, we have to do this in proper consultation with indigenous communities. I have asked my team, conscious of the fact that we are operating in COVID times and have to observe physical distancing for people's health and well-being, to take the time to do the proper consultation with indigenous partners and treaty areas. A number of them have different perspectives on health needs and health engagement.

A number of the recommendations, as you'll recall, do exist in a number of reports. The one that comes to mind, obviously, is the Viens report. These issues are intermingled with jurisdictional challenges. The federal government has its role to play, which is unquestionable, but this is something we will need to do not only in partnership with indigenous people, first and foremost, but also in partnership with the provinces.

[Rachel Blaney, NDP, North Island—Powell River, BC]

Okay, so there is no clear timeline, but you're working on it.

My next question for you is about the connected coast project, which aims to bring fibre optic Internet to the entire Canadian west coast, including dozens of unserved and underserved indigenous communities.

The universal broadband fund will cover 75% of the cost for last-mile infrastructure. If the department, depending on whether it's treaty or non-treaty, doesn't cover the final 25%, many of these communities will suffer. The province is planning to cover the 25% for non-indigenous communities. To me, it is another example of systemic racism for non-indigenous communities to be covered and indigenous communities not to be covered.

I'm wondering if I can get a commitment that the department will cover the 25% to ensure that these communities finally have Internet access and can be brought closer to equity.

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

Ms. Blaney, I'll respond to your conclusion, from before you asked your question, on the timing of the legislation. While it is perhaps the prerogative of the federal government to decide when to introduce this type of legislation, it really will be indigenous communities, after our consultations, that will guide that timeline. I think this is always important to remember, and I know you know that.

On the question with respect to broadband, this is a portfolio that falls under the responsibility of Minister Monsef. I would note that in the announcement by the Prime Minister, $100 million is reserved for indigenous communities—

[Rachel Blaney, NDP, North Island—Powell River, BC]

I'm actually talking more specifically. I understand that the 75% is with Minister Monsef. The limit is the 25%. The province has already stepped up and said it will fulfill that 25% in partnership with the federal government to make sure that non-indigenous communities get Internet accessibility.

What I'm asking is whether this department will acknowledge that it needs to work with indigenous communities to make sure that the 25% gap is covered.

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

I am agreeing with you when I say we have to work with indigenous communities to identify their broadband needs and prioritize them when they are identified as priorities.

[Rachel Blaney, NDP, North Island—Powell River, BC]

Therefore, there is no commitment to supporting them to make sure they get the final 25%. Even looking into this would be so helpful to the many indigenous communities that I serve in my riding.

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

I'm absolutely glad to look into this. These issues are raised constantly and are, as I mentioned earlier with respect to health care legislation, exacerbated by COVID. Students in particular have been asked to study at home, and this isn't necessarily a function of remoteness, although that does pose a challenge.

[Rachel Blaney, NDP, North Island—Powell River, BC]

I can tell you that in one community in particular in my riding it was a matter of metres, and because Indigenous Services would not step up to pick that up, the community bordering the indigenous community got Internet accessibility and the reserve that was right there, across the bridge, did not.

This is the challenge, and I'm hoping that your department will look into it, because if this is not addressed, indigenous communities across this region will not get access while all communities around them will. To me, this is another explicit example of systems failing indigenous people, which is systemic racism.

My time is done.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bob Bratina]

Thanks very much, Ms. Blaney, and you are right on time too.

Mr. Viersen, you have five minutes for your first round of questioning.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister, for being here today. I appreciate it. I don't quite know where you are right now, but it's a little weird to talk to an empty room.

Across this country, we've seen first nations communities step up to deal with COVID, but there are a number of other issues being dealt with across the country. I'm thinking in particular about the Mi’kmaq fishermen and the non-indigenous fishermen.

Minister, about a month ago, you made some comments about the RCMP letting down New Brunswickers. I'm just wondering if you could clarify that.

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

You'd have to clarify your question, MP Viersen. My comment about the RCMP letting down indigenous communities wasn't about New Brunswick.

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

Was it Nova Scotia?

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

Yes, it was about communities in Nova Scotia, and particularly the assault on Chief Sack and, two days later, the burning of a fish plant.

I think what everyone saw, and what indigenous communities have seen time and time again, is police services failing to serve them. You can look at the statistics, and I would direct everyone to the report by former justice Bastarache that came out today. I think it was quite clear insofar as it relates to indigenous peoples.

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

I would say, though, Minister, that the government has let down all Nova Scotians on this issue. This issue has been escalating for months, and I'm concerned that the government has failed to step in.

On the policing aspect of it, are you the minister responsible for policing?