Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee on Dec. 15th, 2021

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

Thank you. That covers the business. Are there other items?

I see that Mr. Battiste has his hand up.

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

Yes. I wish to continue the discussion that Mr. Schmale raised on establishing a subcommittee.

I had spoken to some of the parties and I think we have support to move forward with this. One of the first things about being on the Indigenous and northern affairs committee is understanding the terminology, the correct and most respectful processes whereby we can move forward as a committee.

I have floated as an idea to the other parties that we start off with a historic first as our first meeting in January and have a training session. One of the greatest examples that I have seen used is the Kairos blanket exercise. That is an interactive tool whereby we can learn about and go through cultural sensitivity, as well as training and education on indigenous history and indigenous terminology. I think it has been well received across Canada. I look to the parties to see if we can start off our meeting in January with that kind of training session.

We look to the establishment of a subcommittee to iron out the details of how we move forward on that. Based on what we've heard lately, with some of the things that are around, I think it's good to have a subcommittee that can meet and discuss this, but also, I understand, there is the option of virtual training sessions.

I think both of those things would be very beneficial for this committee. I look to the other parties for their support in moving forward in this historic first to open our minds and our hearts before we start into motions on areas of studies—first to learn and to hear.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

Thank you, Mr. Battiste.

Does any other member wish to comment on what Mr. Battiste has said?

[The Clerk]

Mrs. Gill would like to speak.

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I would like to ask several questions about what Mr. Battiste said. I will tell you what I understand, but please let me know if I am mistaken. First of all, I don't know what Mr. Battiste means by the word training. I understand the whole question of awareness and knowledge of history, which, in my opinion, is primarily the responsibility of each elected representative.

I'm just wondering if this is happening outside the committee. As Mr. Schmale said, the committee should be starting work soon. Would these hours be in addition to the committee meetings? Although I've been an MP for six years, I've only been on committees for three, and the election happened very quickly. So I'm wondering if this is common practice, and I feel like a precedent is being set.

I'm not saying that setting a precedent is a bad thing. In fact, I want to see Quebec become independent. However, I have some questions. I would like to hear my colleagues from each of the parties on this subject, and I would like to know if we could make a more substantial proposal. I'm willing to support this proposal, but I feel responsible, and I would like to know more about what I'm agreeing to.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

Thank you, Madame Gill.

Mr. Battiste, would it be possible to elaborate a little more on the proposed first meeting and the opportunity to sensitize and educate so that Madame Gill will have a better sense of what we're talking about?

As I understand it, this is something you are proposing that would be a starting at the first meeting so that it will help to guide us in subsequent meetings. Perhaps you could elaborate a bit more for Madame Gill.

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

Yes. To be clear, this is something that we discussed in the previous INAN committee—in the 43rd—at the start and that didn't end up happening, but I thought we had a good discussion around it. This would be at the first meeting we have when we are back in January. It will be during the two-hour normal business meeting, but instead of looking at motions and studies, we would start off by having an education session.

I would suggest the Kairos witness blanket, but I would also look to the subcommittee, which I assume would have one member from each of the parties on it, so that when we come back as a committee as a whole we would have all of the details ironed out. That's where I believe the subcommittee could be utilized.

To be clear, this would be the first time that the INAN committee is doing this, and I think it's an important first step in moving forward.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

Thank you, Mr. Battiste.

The floor is yours, Madam Idlout.

[Lori Idlout, NDP, Nunavut, NU]

Qujannamiik, Uqaqtittiji.

I would like to show my support for having some sort of orientation session. I like the idea of having it during our two-hour normal meeting so that it could be recorded and we could go back to it if we needed to.

I would also like to suggest that in that training or orientation session, we make sure that part of the content differentiates between the realities that were experienced by first nations, Métis and Inuit, because we all have very different experiences, although a lot of the treatment may have been the same. I think we've come to realize that we have important unique differences between our cultures. I think it would be great to make sure that the subcommittee does a few things, including identifying facilitators who are experts in first nations, Métis or Inuit areas as well as making sure that we discuss good questions as Marilène just suggested. We do have really good questions that I think the subcommittee could really help hash out in preparation for our first session in January.

When I want to ask a question later on a different topic, will I just need to raise my hand? As an Inuk, a bilingual Inuk, and an Inuk with constituents who still speak only Inuktitut, I think it would be amazing if I could have interpretation services in Inuktitut, as have been provided in the House of Commons, when I'm able to speak. I would like to ask if this would be a possibility in this committee as well.

Qujannamiik for allowing me to speak.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

Thank you very much, Madam Idlout.

With respect to translation services, I will have to defer to the clerk on that issue.

Are there other members who wish to speak on Mr. Battiste's proposal?

Go ahead, Mr. Badawey.

[Vance Badawey, Liberal, Niagara Centre, ON]

Thank you.

I'd like to put forward a motion that we establish a subcommittee and that each party submit names of who they would like to have on that subcommittee, and that the meeting of this subcommittee be the first meeting and that it would look at the issues we're discussing right now.

I'm sure everyone has an interest in how we will move forward as a committee. That being the case, that discussion can happen at the subcommittee. I would even go as far as having the subcommittee speak about prioritizing what all parties would like to see us move forward on. Obviously Mr. Battiste's intervention would be the first one. As the member mentioned earlier, the blueprint of that process can be discussed at that meeting.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

Thank you, Mr. Badawey. There is just one point for clarification.

Is your proposal that, with regard to the formation of the subcommittee, which we definitely have to undertake, it meet prior to our first intended meeting, which would be when we come back at the end of January, so it would already have looked at Mr. Battiste's proposal or any other substantial motions, or that it do this when we return at the end of January?

[Vance Badawey, Liberal, Niagara Centre, ON]

I mean before the next meeting, yes, since we have only so much meeting time between now and the end of June. We have our allocated times twice a week. I'm sure everyone wants to dive right into the issues, the studies and the hearings, as well as the session that Mr. Battiste talked about. With all that said, I think the subcommittee can meet prior to that. It can somewhat set the agenda as well as the blueprint for that first meeting, and then we can go from there.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

Is there agreement amongst the members as to what Mr. Badawey has proposed?

I see an agreement. It's a little bit difficult to see all the unanimity that is oozing through this committee right now, but it sounds like we must choose our subcommittee. There are established procedures for choosing that subcommittee, as you all know. I would encourage us to do this from the different parties, and that we form the subcommittee as quickly as possible.

I will also say that one of the tasks of the subcommittee, as proposed by Mr. Battiste—and I didn't see any objections—would be to elaborate on the details of that first cultural sensitivity session.

I would also say to the different parties that if you have substantial motions that you wish to bring forward for study by this committee, this would also be an opportunity for you to provide those to the clerk, and they may be able to be studied by the subcommittee once it is formed.

Go ahead, Mr. Badawey.

[Vance Badawey, Liberal, Niagara Centre, ON]

I don't see any other hands up, so I would be prepared to put a motion forward to adjourn.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

I don't see any other hands up at this point, so I'm going to assume that is unanimous.

Thank you very much, everyone, for this first meeting. I think we accomplished what we needed to accomplish, and I think we've already set the tone for future meetings. Again, I urge you all to work together to get the subcommittee appointed as quickly as possible so that we can begin to flesh out the very important motions and items we will be busy with in the coming months.

Thank you very much. I declare the first meeting adjourned.