Evidence of meeting #110 for Indigenous and Northern Affairs in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was water.
A video is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Patty Hajdu Liberal Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON
I'll just really quickly answer.
Listen. I think many of you have heard me say that we are in a situation that's actually both good and bad. The good news is that first nations people and groups are actually applying for and getting Jordan's principle funding, which means that more kids than ever are getting care. That care spans from things like dental care to vision care, supports for learning, social supports and supports for people with severe illnesses who need to be supported closer to home, which is the root of why Jordan's principle exists.
The challenging part is that the demands have increased at such an exponential rate that we are now, as you know, as a department, working on efficiencies to make sure, first, that people get service in time and that we understand exactly what urgent service is versus a service that can unfold over time and, second, that we are able to be efficient with the service providers, who often are billing the Government of Canada for things like speech pathology and other kinds of services.
Julien, do you want to speak a little bit? I didn't understand that there was a deadline and I don't think there is. I want to make sure that I'm right.
Director General, Strategic Policy, Planning and Information, First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, Department of Indigenous Services
Yes.
I believe you might be referring to the fact that the initial Inuit child first initiative investment in budget 2018 was for a five-year period. In budget 2024, it was extended for an additional year, and funding was confirmed for this fiscal year as we continue working with ITK and Inuit treaty organizations on the design for the long-term approach to Inuit CFI and their desire to move forward in a shared responsibility model.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Patrick Weiler
Thank you very much, Ms. Idlout.
That concludes our second panel.
I want to thank Minister Hajdu and the officials from Indigenous Services Canada. Thank you not just for coming to committee today but for coming to committee twice to speak on the estimates.
With that, we are going to suspend as we prepare for our third panel.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Patrick Weiler
I call this meeting back to order.
I would like to welcome our witnesses for our third panel today. We have the Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs.
Thank you for coming back to committee, along with officials. As with our last panel, given that you already gave your opening remarks the last time you appeared at committee for estimates, we will go directly into questions from members.
With that, I'll turn it over to Mr. Melillo for six minutes for the opening round.
Conservative
Eric Melillo Conservative Kenora, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Minister, it's good to see you back. We appreciate your coming back to the committee.
The last time, Minister, we had a chance to have an exchange at this table, we spoke quite a bit about nutrition north and food security in the north. It's very clear, Minister, that over the years you have been in charge of the department, you've increased funding to nutrition north but that has not led to results. The rates of food insecurity have grown across the territories. It's clear that the plan isn't working.
A question I wanted to ask you, Minister, that I didn't get a chance to—
Bloc
Sébastien Lemire Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC
Mr. Chair, sorry for interrupting the discussion, but the interpretation currently isn't available in French.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Patrick Weiler
Let's pause for a second here.
Mr. Melillo, could you just talk a little bit?
Conservative
Eric Melillo Conservative Kenora, ON
Thank you.
Minister, a question I wanted to get to when we were talking about the cost of food in the north and how expensive it is for people just to put food on their table is a simple one. Given that a lot of the big bureaucratic spending programs you've announced have not been working, why don't you look to a simple solution, like what our party has brought forward, and axe the carbon tax to bring down the cost of food for people across the north?
Dan Vandal LiberalMinister of Northern Affairs
Thank you so much for that question.
It's great to be back for the third time in three weeks.
Listen. The reality is that the north is faced with severe constraints in terms of isolation, and things have always been expensive in the north. We're still recovering from a three-year pandemic, which has really fractured supply chains, including in the north.
Liberal
Dan Vandal Liberal Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB
If you ask me a one-minute question, you have to give me more than 12 seconds.
Conservative
Eric Melillo Conservative Kenora, ON
I recognize that, Minister. However, getting rid of the carbon tax is a very simple thing. It would bring the costs down for people across the country, including in the north.
Why are you so against such a simple, common-sense proposal that would bring food costs down for people across the territory you're serving?
Liberal
Dan Vandal Liberal Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB
It's important to note that people in Nunavut, for example, get their food brought in by airplane. There is no carbon tax on aviation. There have been all sorts of studies by renowned economists who say that the carbon tax actually adds very little to the price of food, not only in the north but in Canada.
Conservative
Eric Melillo Conservative Kenora, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister.
I asked a very simple question.
Liberal
Dan Vandal Liberal Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB
I'm just trying to answer your question in under 10 seconds.
Conservative
Eric Melillo Conservative Kenora, ON
Well, you're not, so I'm just going to move on to the next one.
We know you're not going to axe the carbon tax completely. That's pretty clear. You're opposed to it. You have this obsession with taxation. Your government has this obsession with taxing Canadians to the point where they cannot afford to feed themselves, heat their homes and provide for their families.
At the very least, then, can we meet each other halfway? Will you commit today to passing Bill C-234, in its original form, to support farmers and farm families so that we can bring down the cost of living by removing the carbon tax on farm operations? Please answer yes or no.
Liberal
Dan Vandal Liberal Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB
First of all, if you think we have an obsession, you have a fixation with the price on pollution. It's been well thought out by 40 economists who've studied the price on pollution, and they say it's the best way to fight climate change—
Conservative
Liberal
Conservative
Eric Melillo Conservative Kenora, ON
Why don't you care about the opinions of the people who are struggling to fill their gas tanks, to heat their homes and to feed their families?