Evidence of meeting #126 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 ministers.
A video is available from Parliament.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Patrick Weiler
Thank you very much for raising that, Mr. McLeod. You're absolutely right in this.
The crosstalk that's happening does need to stop here, so I'll just remind all members to consider the health of those with challenges hearing, as well as our interpreters, when you're considering talking over another person.
I have paused the time. There are another two minutes left for Mr. Schmale.
I'll pass the floor back to you.
Conservative
Jamie Schmale Conservative Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
In 2016, this company had an audit that showed very clearly that none of these boxes were checked. Given that the AFN at another committee's meeting talked about how most of these indigenous contracts have gone out to shell companies that are not indigenous owned and that are not creating jobs for indigenous people, how do you continue to stand behind this program?
Liberal
Patty Hajdu Liberal Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON
I think I've been clear that the program is currently considered under review with first nations partners about how to better deal with the challenge of proving indigeneity, and I'll just say that proving indigeneity is deeply rooted in a colonial structure of deciding who's indigenous or not. We've been working with a number of indigenous business partners, including a number of esteemed individuals, to decide how best to move forward. However, what I will say is that—
Liberal
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Patrick Weiler
I'm going to pause again here.
Mr. McLeod just brought this point up. This is going to be a problem, and this very much needs to stop.
I'm going to pass the floor back to Mr. Schmale.
You have about 50 seconds left.
Conservative
Jamie Schmale Conservative Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON
Thank you.
Thank you, Minister.
How many businesses have been removed from this list?
Conservative
Liberal
Patty Hajdu Liberal Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON
—is that this list provides a very important tool to the Government of Canada to ensure that indigenous economic development—
Conservative
Jamie Schmale Conservative Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON
Mr. Chair, she's not going to answer the question.
Liberal
Patty Hajdu Liberal Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON
—continues to be driven through a procurement process.
I want to quote Philip Ducharme.
Conservative
Jamie Schmale Conservative Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON
How many have been removed? Just give a ballpark number.
Liberal
Patty Hajdu Liberal Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON
I'd like to quote....
Mr. Chair, I'm looking for your direction. You have to—
October 28th, 2024 / 4:40 p.m.
Conservative
Jamie Schmale Conservative Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON
Okay. How about Canadian Health Care Agency?
Conservative
Jamie Schmale Conservative Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON
She's not answering the question. I only have 50 seconds.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Patrick Weiler
There are about 25 seconds left. I want to give Mr. Schmale the opportunity to ask his question and for the minister to answer it.
Conservative
Jamie Schmale Conservative Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON
Okay.
Can the Canadian Health Care Agency still apply for contracts under this program?
Liberal
Patty Hajdu Liberal Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON
Any company can still apply for contracts, but it would not be included on the list as indicating that it is an indigenous-owned business.
Conservative
Liberal
Patty Hajdu Liberal Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON
What I would say is that indigeneity and the capacity to procure for the Government of Canada are two separate considerations. A business would not be counted as an indigenous business if it's not on the indigenous business list. I would say that it's important to understand that businesses can change in ownership. If that's the case or if a business is flagged, as Dalian was, by Public Services and Procurement Canada as needing to be removed as a result of a significant security status breach, those things would be immediately acted upon.
Conservative
Jamie Schmale Conservative Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON
The Canadian Health Care Agency was flagged in 2016, and it still receives funding.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Patrick Weiler
Colleagues, I'm going to step in again here. The time is up. That's actually much exceeded the time. However, again, I just want to remind members not to have this crosstalk.
With that, we're going to move over to our next questioner.
Mr. Hanley, you have five minutes or less.
Liberal
Brendan Hanley Liberal Yukon, YT
Thank you.
During my short previous round, I omitted to thank all three of you, ministers, and the officials for coming. Thank you so much for being here.
Minister Anandasangaree, with regard to the letter from Judy Gingell, chair of the Yukon Residential School Missing Children Project, I just want to read out two paragraphs from the letter very briefly to get your response.
One paragraph says:
This prolonged uncertainty is detrimental to our planning and execution of the vital work initiated by the YRSMCP Working Group. Not to mention the added stress imposed on the Survivors who have committed themselves to this work but now feel silenced by these delays.
Later on, it says:
It is imperative that we establish open lines of communication and ensure that all projects receive the timely support they need to fulfill our shared commitment to addressing the legacy of residential schools and supporting the families affected by this tragic history.
Minister, I believe that communities shouldn't have to limit their work on this subject due to the prospect of uncertain funding available from the federal government. I wonder if you can share some clarity on how the funding will continue to work and perhaps provide some certainty to the YRSMCP working group—and others around the country, for that matter.