This kind of relationship between our democratic institutions and the ministers they're supposed to hold accountable is exactly why Canadians and, most particularly, indigenous people can't trust these institutions.
We have credible questions about the main estimates, which are the financial resources for the capital projects of indigenous communities. We have members of Parliament present in this committee who represent indigenous nations and constituents concerned about outcomes for indigenous people in this country, and they find themselves at a loss when we have ministers—not just Minister Vandal, but, from what I understand, Ms. Patty Hajdu as well—who have declined to stay for the entire hour.
I'm not a regular member of this committee, but in the public accounts committee—I recognize that my former clerk is here—we would force the government members to stay.
When it comes to the issues most vital to the outcomes of indigenous people, this is simply unacceptable, Chair. Should you wish to represent this institution, which you do as the chair of this committee, it is your obligation to ensure that a credible amount of time and effort is put into answering the questions that members, who are democratically elected to this place, have an opportunity to ask.
Without that, Chair, it affects both our ability to hold the government accountable and that of the government members to speak to the benefits of indigenous communities. It defeats the mandate of this committee and prevents it from doing either if the minister is not present.