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

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Thank you, Chair. Thank you for reminding the minister.

Minister, it's my time. I have a very simple question here: Were your officials correct when they told the government operations committee that the decision to remove Dalian Enterprises from the indigenous business list was based on reports in The Globe and Mail?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON]

Through you, Mr. Chair, the indigenous business list is an important tool for the Government of Canada to meet its procurement targets, something that I will note under the previous Conservative government they didn't pay any attention to, of course.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Thank you, Minister.

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON]

We will continue to make sure that the list is accurate and up to date.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

You haven't answered a single question I've asked in the entirety of these six minutes, but I'll ask you one more. Since you have now established that Dalian isn't an indigenous company, and since it got over $100 million in contracts from your government under indigenous set-asides, will you expect a company that was not indigenous and that got over $100 million in indigenous set-aside contracts to pay back the money it received?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON]

Mr. Chair, I think “indigenous set-asides” is a misleading phrase. I don't expect anything else from Conservatives, who have no idea how procurement works and no idea what procurement targets mean. It doesn't mean that—

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

You know so little about your file. You have not answered a single question that I have asked in six minutes. You haven't even attempted to answer a single question that I have asked in six minutes. You have nothing—

[The Chair, Liberal, Patrick Weiler]

Mr. Genuis, your time is up.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

—but insults for other members rather than answers about your disastrous record of indigenous procurement. You should be ashamed of the job you've done.

[The Chair, Liberal, Patrick Weiler]

Mr. Genuis, your time is up.

I'll give the minister an opportunity to respond to that one.

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON]

That member should be ashamed for not understanding that indigenous businesses have had a hard time competing for procurement with the Government of Canada. The work we're doing to ensure that indigenous businesses have an opportunity to benefit from the spend of Canada, I would say that it's the kind of activity that would be at risk under any Conservative government and we would see cuts to any kind of approach. In fact, I would imagine that member would call it too woke.

[The Chair, Liberal, Patrick Weiler]

Thank you very much, Mr. Genuis.

With that, we'll move to the second speaker in this first round.

Mr. Carr, you have six minutes.

[Ben Carr, Liberal, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

Thanks very much, Mr. Chair.

I'll try to switch our tone a little bit here.

Ministers, it's nice to see you here. Thank you for making yourselves available for what is always an important discussion.

Before I get to my first question, Minister Vandal, I want to take this opportunity to mention your recent announcement that, after a very lengthy and successful career of serving the people of Winnipeg, Manitoba and Canada, you'll be spending some more time with your family. I've had the honour and privilege of knowing you since I was a young boy. I have tremendously benefited from your friendship, your counsel and your experience. I certainly am looking forward to having a few more minutes with you in this official capacity here today, but I did want to take the opportunity to congratulate you on an immensely meaningful career and your service to the people you and I both represent in our home province of Manitoba.

With that, Minister, there are two projects in particular under way right now in downtown Winnipeg. There's the revitalization of the Hudson's Bay building, which is a partnership we have with the Southern Chiefs' Organization. Then, of course, there's the huge redevelopment project being undertaken at Portage Place, which will see some of the $633 million in federal health transfers that have gone from the federal government to the Province of Manitoba put to use, with, in addition to that, some very meaningful outcomes for indigenous folks and Winnipeggers as a whole across our city.

Can you tell us just a little bit about these two projects and the work you have been involved in as the PrairiesCan and northern affairs minister? How do you see these types of investments in first nations, Métis and Inuit peoples in particular as being meaningful to both the social and economic success of our province?

Thank you.

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

Thank you so much for that question, MP Carr, and I thank you for your congratulations on my impending retirement from House of Commons and politics.

Yes, you were very young when I started, because in 2025 it'll be 30 years since I first represented Saint Boniface—Saint Vital as a city councillor, and since 2015, of course, I've represented it as a member of Parliament. It's been fantastic. It's all positive. I'm leaving with nothing but great memories, and I'm really.... Support for the Prime Minister and the party, of course, is front and centre in my exit.

With regard to the question, I'll start with the recent announcement. About a month ago—six weeks ago—we were both in Winnipeg to announce a $10-million investment in the redevelopment of Portage Place, which is a very big mall on Portage Avenue in the middle of downtown Winnipeg, across from the MTS centre. It represents a significant opportunity for downtown revitalization. The project is being undertaken by True North, which is the owner of the NHL Winnipeg Jets, by the Southern Chiefs' Organization and with funding from the Government of Manitoba, the Government of Canada, of course, and the City of Winnipeg.

When the project is complete, there will be a brand new health centre in downtown Winnipeg, which is funded largely by the $600-million transfer that our government made to the Province of Manitoba for the health accord, something that was a long time coming. There will be a health care centre. There will be a couple of hundred units of affordable housing, which are going to be managed and owned by the Southern Chiefs' Organization, and there also will be some pretty interesting and inclusive public space, which PrairiesCan is paying for in part as part of the overall redevelopment.

That project, Portage Place, is connected to the old Hudson's Bay building, for which there is another partnership ongoing between the Government of Canada and the Southern Chiefs' Organization. There will be day care spaces in there. There will be hundreds of units of affordable housing. There will be a museum that's going to be owned and managed by Southern Chiefs' Organization, and there's going to be space for their government administrative offices.

Really, it's one of these old Bay buildings in downtown Winnipeg. I think it's upwards of 600,000 square feet in the downtown that's currently vacant, and we're really looking forward to that partnership. Our government, through the Department of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, through CMHC, has invested over $100 million in that partnership. I know it will create hundreds of indigenous jobs, which will benefit not only indigenous communities but also the province as a whole.

If you take another hop, skip and jump further east, you're going to see the the Manitoba Métis Federation, which is, of course, the governing body of the Red River Métis. It's constructing a Métis national heritage centre at Portage and Main, where Bobby Hull signed a million-dollar contract in 1972. That's going to be featuring Métis heritage, Métis culture and the very bright future that the Métis have in Manitoba and Canada. We're working closely with the Manitoba Métis Federation on that project, and that strip of Portage Avenue in downtown Winnipeg will be transformed through our partnership.

[Ben Carr, Liberal, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

Thank you very much, Minister.

I know my time is up. It's amazing what happens when you allow ministers the opportunity to give thorough responses such as that.

Thank you very much. I'm looking forward to the following questions.

[The Chair, Liberal, Patrick Weiler]

Thank you very much, Mr. Carr.

Mr. Lemire, you have the floor for six minutes.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

For practical purposes, my comments will fall somewhere in between.

Minister Hajdu, it's important for me to talk to you about economic reconciliation—I don't think this will come as a surprise to you—as well as about structural and meaningful capacity-building tools for first nations so that they can focus on their priorities and well-being.

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON]

Mr. Chair, I can't seem to get the translation. I just want to make sure.... I do understand most, but I want to make sure I'm fully understanding.

[The Chair, Liberal, Patrick Weiler]

I’ll reset the clock for Mr. Lemire, but first I want to make sure that the minister can hear the interpretation.

It seems to be working now. So we'll start again.

Mr. Lemire, you have the floor for six minutes.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate it.

Madam Minister, I'd like to talk about economic reconciliation, as well as structural and meaningful capacity-building tools for first nations so that they can focus on their priorities and well-being.

Every time we’ve had the opportunity to ask you questions, the Bloc Québécois has noted the innovative financial tools currently being used by Quebec's indigenous communities. These tools have a direct impact on each of these communities, and are an opportunity to do away with programs that are ill suited to their modern reality.

You're familiar with the Yänonhchia' program. It's an indigenous housing finance model designed, directed and managed by indigenous people. You've had access to this file since February 2023, if not longer. What do you intend to do with it?

There is indeed an indigenous middle class now, but the federal government seems once again intent on ignoring it and any solutions for indigenous communities in Quebec and Canada.

It's October 2024. Have you had an exchange with Minister Freeland about the Yänonhchia' program?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON]

Thank you for that very important question.

Yes, I have discussed the program with my colleagues as well as with Chief Haymond, who leads it.

We have also, as you know, proceeded in the same direction that you're talking about, Monsieur Lemire, regarding self-determination and housing, with the urban, rural and northern indigenous housing strategy, which sets aside $4 billion for first nations, Inuit and Métis distinctions-based housing that is obviously off reserve but certainly in areas of Canada where many first nations and indigenous peoples live.

I am excited about the programs—

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

Let’s get back to the Yänonhchia' program, Minister.

What can we expect? Will your department be investing in the Yänonhchia' project, either in an economic statement or in the next budget?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON]

I can't speak about the fall economic statement and its content, as I'm not the Minister of Finance.

However, I often speak with the minister and my colleagues about self-determination for indigenous peoples. It's very important to have programs like Yänonhchia', for example, which provide new tools for indigenous communities.

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

In the context of true reconciliation from an economic and equity standpoint, I'd also like to discuss insurance pooling, financing and the Autorité financière des Premières Nations.

There need to be risk management mechanisms in place for indigenous communities where individuals or entities combine their resources to share the tax burden and any potential losses. By coming together, members reduce the impact of individual claims, meaning a more predictable distribution of risk and lower overall costs for each member involved.

Obviously, you've been made aware of this. I'd like to know what answers you have. Can we expect any good news in the coming year?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON]

There's a lot of enthusiasm for new approaches to mitigating infrastructure risks and improving housing affordability for indigenous communities.

That's the reason we've been working not only with people like Chief Haymond, but also through large economic partners, like the major banks in the country, to talk about de-risking lending, for example, for first nations communities and about creating better tools for first nations communities so that they are able to pursue infrastructure at their own speed.

We also have other tools for first nations that allow for full self-determination in terms of priorities, like 10-year agreements that allow for first nations communities to receive block funding over 10 years, so that they are able to plan for a variety of different social and infrastructure needs across the board.