Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee on May 29th, 2024

[Dan Vandal, Liberal, Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB]

—we have all sorts of programs for affordability. We are always—

[Eric Melillo, Conservative, Kenora, ON]

It's programs.

[Dan Vandal, Liberal, Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB]

—thinking about affordability in the north and all over Canada. That's why we're bringing forward a national food program. Can you tell me if you're going to support that—

[Eric Melillo, Conservative, Kenora, ON]

Minister—

[Dan Vandal, Liberal, Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB]

—in budget 2024?

[Eric Melillo, Conservative, Kenora, ON]

Minister—

[Dan Vandal, Liberal, Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB]

I'm asking a question.

[Eric Melillo, Conservative, Kenora, ON]

You can ask a question at another time. This is my time to ask questions. I'm definitely going to be voting against the budget. I'm always going to be voting non-confidence in your government, and I'm proud to do so, because your policies have been disastrous. They've driven up the cost of living for Canadians.

You mentioned programs, and we hear that all the time from this government. We hear about the big spending programs, another government program and another government program, over and over again and more money going to nutrition north. It's not working. People are struggling to put food on their tables across the north.

You've said you're not going to axe the carbon tax. Your only plan is to bring forward more bureaucratic programs. They haven't worked for nine years. Why should we believe you that they're going to work now?

[Dan Vandal, Liberal, Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB]

First of all, I wouldn't call the harvesters support grant a bureaucratic program. It was codeveloped with indigenous nations, Inuit specifically, and northerners. It's something that encourages hunting, trapping and harvesting. Country food for local northerners is something that we heard is very popular.

Yes, there are difficulties, and that's because of the pandemic effects over the long term. It's because of Russia's war on Ukraine. It's because of supply chains that have been ruptured.

[Eric Melillo, Conservative, Kenora, ON]

It's because of the carbon tax. It's because of the inflationary spending of the Liberal government.

[Dan Vandal, Liberal, Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB]

The reality is that there is no price on pollution on food that goes to Nunavut—

[Eric Melillo, Conservative, Kenora, ON]

That's right. There's a carbon tax.

[Dan Vandal, Liberal, Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB]

—from the south.

There is none.

[Eric Melillo, Conservative, Kenora, ON]

That's right. There's not a price on pollution; there's a carbon tax. You're correct about that.

[Dan Vandal, Liberal, Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB]

There absolutely is none.

[Eric Melillo, Conservative, Kenora, ON]

I have no time remaining.

Thank you, Minister, for being here. Hopefully next time we'll be able to get some answers out of you.

[Dan Vandal, Liberal, Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB]

If you let me talk, I'll answer.

[The Chair, Liberal, Patrick Weiler]

Thank you, Mr. Melillo, for the generous ceding of your time.

Next up we have, for six minutes, Mr. McLeod.

[Michael McLeod, Liberal, Northwest Territories, NT]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Welcome back, Mr. Vandal.

It's always great to see you here because that means we get to talk about the Northwest Territories a little bit more. We can talk about some of the challenges and some of the situations we're facing.

The Northwest Territories does have very unique economic development potential, and it contributes to Canada's economic growth. The indigenous and northern entrepreneurs and small businesses have certainly weathered the storm of the COVID pandemic and are now working towards growing the economy.

My first question for you, Mr. Minister, is to ask you to expand on how the government is supporting economic development and creating jobs in the Northwest Territories.

[Dan Vandal, Liberal, Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB]

That's a very important question.

I've been to the Northwest Territories a significant number of times over the last couple of years, and I've always enjoyed my trips there.

I'm also the minister of CanNor, which is the regional economic development agency for the north and the Arctic. Through CanNor alone, our government has supported over 145 projects in the Northwest Territories since 2021, with an investment of over $55 million that basically will build, improve and revitalize community infrastructure, such as parks, rec centres and multi-purpose buildings.

Over half of CanNor's projected funding goes to indigenous-led projects. Just today, I announced almost $850,000 for Łı́ı́dlı̨ı̨ Kų́ę́́ First Nation in Fort Simpson to install two hydroponic garden systems, which will provide the community with a year-round source of fresh produce to help strengthen local food security.

We also announced over $600,000 to install a solar energy generation and storage unit at Columac mine site. This will allow for greatly reduced carbon dioxide emissions for off-grid mine sites.

I might add that I also know that we have a critical minerals strategy for the north. Mining, of course, is a huge economic driver all over the north, including in the Northwest Territories. That's something I'm working on with the NRCan minister, MP Wilkinson, who is developing the critical minerals strategy. There's a carve-off for the north. That's something that we are regularly engaging with local communities on, and we will continue to work together to create good jobs for the north.

[Michael McLeod, Liberal, Northwest Territories, NT]

Thank you for that.

I have another question about the issue we discussed last time with regard to nutrition north. I had indicated that I was involved with the Government of Northwest Territories during the days when there was a transition from the food mail program to nutrition north. There was a real outcry from the communities to add communities to the list, because the Conservative government of the day was cutting communities and was taking communities off. There were very few communities left that could qualify. There was a lot of concern, because many communities felt that they would not be able to live in the areas they did. They were very isolated, and the cost of supply was very expensive. More specifically, the cost of food was very expensive.

You've been to the Northwest Territories quite often. You're a regular visitor now. What have you seen, and what would you expect to happen if the nutrition north program were cut? Would these communities still continue to function, especially now, when we're starting to see additional challenges like barges that can't run anymore and things of that nature?

[Dan Vandal, Liberal, Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB]

Listen. Perfection does not exist. Nutrition north is not a perfect program, but I can tell you that it does a lot of good all over the north, including in Northwest Territories. It makes food that is way too expensive more affordable. We know that there is more work to do, and we're doing just that. In fact, we are currently doing an internal review of the retail portion of nutrition north. Once that is done, we will do an external audit of nutrition north to try to get some clarity on the retail subsidy part of it.

It's also important to know that nutrition north is more than the retail subsidy. There is over $100 million for the harvesters support grant over three years in budget 2024. There is a community food programs fund that provides food in schools and food for seniors. That's something that's locally owned and operated as well. There are also nutrition education initiatives.

It's a lot more than that. Consultation is key. We want to consult with the community before we add on or make changes to nutrition north.

[The Chair, Liberal, Patrick Weiler]

Thank you very much, Mr. McLeod. That's past six minutes.

I'll now give the floor to Mr. Lemire for six minutes.

[Sébastien Lemire, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Given your response to my colleague's last question, I have a follow‑up question. What about co‑creation with the indigenous communities that benefit from Nutrition North Canada's programs? You're now undergoing a review process. Will these communities be included in the process when the time comes to review food logistics in the north? Will communities with access to the northern highway system be able to participate? Is a summit, or another event, planned to ensure the public participation of indigenous communities and their businesses?

[Dan Vandal, Liberal, Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB]

Yes, a summit is a good idea. I know that Nutrition North Canada is a program developed in partnership with indigenous nations, Inuit and other members of northern communities. That's the only way to proceed with the programs. The era of Ottawa making all the decisions is over. The decisions must be rooted in the communities. The best approach is to consult with local communities.

We have the Nutrition North Canada advisory board, which we rely on a great deal. However, we can do much more. There's a great deal of work to do.

In addition, the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, or CanNor, has received about $15 million this year to design programs or come up with innovative ideas that can help with nutrition in the north. We're setting up programs and seeing how this money will be used.