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

[Lori Idlout, NDP, Nunavut, NU]

[Member spoke in Inuktitut, interpreted as follows:]

Thank you, Chairperson.

My first question will be for Minister Anandasangaree.

I'm not sure what this is called in Inuktitut, but the special interlocutor will be hosting a conference. I heard they've been requesting documents, but they haven't been given any documents up to this point.

Can you explain how you have supported Kimberly, so her role can be effective?

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Scarborough—Rouge Park, ON]

Thank you for your question.

The special interlocutor was appointed about two years ago by the Minister of Justice, and I was there at the time of her appointment. I've had engagements with her. My office has continuously had engagements with her. We're looking forward to her report. This is her final report. I have read her interim report, and I'm looking forward to receiving the final report tomorrow. I think all three of us will be in attendance, and we will be able to respond in a more wholesome manner.

I know the work she's doing is very important as we address the issues around missing children and residential schools. There are a number of different parts to the report. I'm not sure if the interim report and final report are in the same order or manner, in terms of presentation. However, it is important that, as a government, we have a wholesome response to her report after reviewing it and looking at the feasibility of the many elements of the report we're expecting tomorrow.

[Lori Idlout, NDP, Nunavut, NU]

[Member spoke in Inuktitut, interpreted as follows:]

Thank you.

I don't have a lot of time, so I'll pass it to somebody else.

[The Chair, Liberal, Patrick Weiler]

Thank you, Ms. Idlout.

Next, we will move to Mr. Schmale for five minutes.

[Jamie Schmale, Conservative, Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON]

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you to our witnesses.

Minister Hajdu, as you know, friendship centres are crucial parts of the indigenous landscape, and their core funding is set to expire.

What assurances can you give this committee that they will receive an answer before March 31?

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

Through the chair, thank you very much.

I'll say that we've worked incredibly hard to support indigenous friendship centres, and we're very proud of the relationship we have. We'll continue to work with them to make sure they can continue to deliver their services to urban indigenous people.

[Jamie Schmale, Conservative, Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON]

Do we have a positive answer here, or are you not confident?

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

I can tell you that this government has been very supportive of indigenous friendship centres, and we'll continue to do that.

It's kind of exciting to hear a Conservative member talk about core funding. I'm very excited to hear that this is your vision.

[Jamie Schmale, Conservative, Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON]

I'm glad you're excited.

I'm excited because I also want to talk about indigenous procurement, which is something—

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

I look forward to your supporting my budget letter.

[Jamie Schmale, Conservative, Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON]

We'll see about that.

Regarding indigenous procurement, a few months ago, you talked about the indigenous business directory being something that determines whether or not a business is indigenous. Now, today, you are saying it's to help create jobs in the indigenous community.

Regardless of your stance changing, it looks like we have a new company here—the Canadian Health Care Agency—that has managed to secure funding of over $100 million. It meets neither of those criteria.

Why is that?

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

Let me be clear that the indigenous business directory is there to support procurement from indigenous businesses. That is the entire purpose of the list.

[Jamie Schmale, Conservative, Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON]

Then how did the Canadian Health Care Agency get in?

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

The value statement behind that list is this: This government believes indigenous economic development is incredibly important, but indigenous partners have not had the same opportunities—

[Jamie Schmale, Conservative, Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON]

I got that. You mentioned that earlier.

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

—to participate in procurements in Canada. To reach the procurement target, we support different departments—

[Jamie Schmale, Conservative, Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON]

Okay. That's perfect.

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

—in order to understand who might be eligible and considered indigenous, so they—

[Jamie Schmale, Conservative, Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON]

That's great.

The Canadian Health Care Agency meets neither of the two changing statements you made.

How did they continue to get additional contracts from the federal government through the indigenous procurement angle when they were not indigenous majority-owned? How did you miss that?

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

The list is curated to make sure it includes people's companies as those companies change in formation. Certain companies may have indigenous partners at times and may re-form. The indigenous partners may sell their shares. I'm sure you understand this. The Conservatives are the party of big business and understand how business works.

You do know that businesses change their ownership structures, and—

[Jamie Schmale, Conservative, Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON]

Your department gave over $100 million to a company that checks neither of those boxes.

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

I will say that this particular business has also provided important health services to first nations people in the community.

[Jamie Schmale, Conservative, Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON]

How did that slip though?

[The Chair, Liberal, Patrick Weiler]

We have a point of order here.

[Michael McLeod, Liberal, Northwest Territories, NT]

Mr. Chair, I've raised this before.

I don't think I'm the only one who has this challenge. Anybody wearing a headset, including the interpreters, can't follow when there's more than one voice over the microphones. Hopefully, we can find a way to resolve this, because I can't follow what's going on.