Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee on Oct. 28th, 2024

[The Chair, Liberal, Patrick Weiler]

I'll just remind the members again to keep it relevant to the topic we're here to discuss, which we all agreed we would discuss. The time is very valuable. I know that we want to hear the answers from our ministers. They're here today.

I've paused the time, Mr. Zimmer. Please get to the question.

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC]

Yes. I'll get back to the question.

You talked about priorities, Minister. For me and I think many Canadians, priorities in Canada start right at the top with leadership. The question is around the leadership of this Prime Minister.

Seeing the public dissatisfaction with the Prime Minister, have you lost confidence in the Prime Minister?

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

To answer your question, no. I support the Prime Minister 110% to continue to lead the party and the country. I support the Liberal Party 110% to continue to be the governing party.

On your reference to Charles Adler, I'll let my statement stand. I stand by it today. I think the whole issue of senatorial appointments is tricky. I will go back 10 years, when we heard the names Mike Duffy—

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC]

Thanks, Minister.

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

—Patrick Brazeau and Pamela Wallin—

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC]

You've answered the question.

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

—who were all appointed by your government.

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC]

He has answered the question, Chair. Can I ask the next question?

[The Chair, Liberal, Patrick Weiler]

I believe the minister is finishing his answer to the question.

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC]

He answered the question. He already said where he stands.

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

I've finished my answer. We've appointed an independent committee to make recommendations on who becomes—

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC]

Chair, can I have my time? You said at the beginning of the meeting that it's the questioner's time.

[The Chair, Liberal, Patrick Weiler]

I have paused the time. This crosstalk can't continue for the reasons I've already made clear.

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC]

He's answered the question. He's actually answered two of my questions, and I want to ask the next question.

[The Chair, Liberal, Patrick Weiler]

Fair enough.

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC]

He's continuing to extrapolate on one of the answers, and I'm ready to ask the next question.

[The Chair, Liberal, Patrick Weiler]

Mr. Zimmer, I will turn it back over to you. You have two and a half minutes left.

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC]

Thank you. Perfect.

Thank you again, Minister.

The Prime Minister and your government have been in power for the last nine years. Clean drinking water is still not done despite the PM's promise in 2015 to have all boil water advisories lifted by 2021. Food is expensive, made worse by the Prime Minister's carbon tax. Heating costs are high and made a lot worse by the Prime Minister's carbon tax. Housing needs in Canada are highest in Nunavut and getting worse. To give you some numbers from the “Northern Housing Report”, which is right in front of me, 49% of families in Nunavut are unable to affordably secure market housing, and, for a more stark number, more than 80% of families can't afford to purchase a single detached home in Nunavut. That points to an exceptionally high poverty rate in Nunavut, the highest in the country. As well, our Arctic sovereignty is more at risk than at any point in our history.

Minister, countless promises made by the Prime Minister to northerners have been broken. Countless announcements won't feed, heat or house northerners. A lot of promises have been made and a lot of money spent, but there's little to show for it.

I guess what is mystifying to me is this: With such a bad record in the north, how can you still have confidence in the Prime Minister?

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

Thank you for that question, first of all. I think the challenges in the north are significant. They have always been there through chronic underfunding by all governments, including some previous governments that were of our stripe and yours.

I believe we've done a good job in addressing the affordability crisis, whether it's the school food program, which was rolled out earlier in the year, that will put nutritious food in all students' bellies—

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC]

Minister, I spoke about very specific things here, which you're not mentioning.

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

—or the child care program, the $10—

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC]

How are you doing on housing?

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

Will you let me answer?

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC]

I would like answers to these questions.

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

When the $10-a-day day care program was first implemented, the first jurisdiction was in Nunavut. I've heard many positive things about that. Your party voted against it.