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.
Conservative
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Patrick Weiler
Mr. Genuis, I paused your time here again, so you have about 45 seconds left.
I think we're all very interested in hearing the answers of the ministers here, so please do give the minister time to respond to the question. I will give you back your 45 seconds, but just with that proviso.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Mr. Chair, let me just ask very precisely.
If you have an instance of cultural appropriation leading to financial misappropriation—that is, someone pretending to be indigenous, getting on the list and getting money that's supposed to be there for indigenous communities—should they have to pay back the money that they took? It's a simple yes-or-no answer. Should they have to pay the money back, yes or no?
Liberal
Patty Hajdu Liberal Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON
If a company is found to have breached contract provisions, that is an option for departments that have utilized that company.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
No. Should they have to pay the money back, yes or no?
October 28th, 2024 / 4:55 p.m.
Liberal
Conservative
Liberal
Patty Hajdu Liberal Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON
—it is clear that the Conservatives want to get rid of this program.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Will you say yes or no? Should they have to pay the money back?
Liberal
Patty Hajdu Liberal Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON
This is something they do not want to do. They do not want to support indigenous—
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Should they have to pay the money back, yes or no, Minister?
Liberal
Conservative
Liberal
Conservative
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Patrick Weiler
That's enough of the crosstalk. I'll give the minister the opportunity to answer this question. We are already over time, but I want to give her the opportunity to answer that.
Conservative
Liberal
Patty Hajdu Liberal Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON
If contracts have been breached, departments have the ability to take appropriate action.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Chair, I have a point of order.
There are clearly established rules about the obligation of witnesses at committees to answer questions. Those rules apply to ministers. It's not like in question period where the Speaker doesn't enforce rules around the content of the answers. There is a requirement, and it is a matter of parliamentary privilege that witnesses have to answer the questions that are asked.
I've been through two rounds, and the minister hasn't answered a single question I've asked. Quite specifically, in the last round, I put a simple question to the minister.
It doesn't matter if it's a minister or someone else. I would ask you to call our witnesses to order and expect them to provide answers to the questions that are being asked.
Liberal
Ben Carr Liberal Winnipeg South Centre, MB
I respect my colleague and his point of view, but as we've said many times before, receiving the response that you want and receiving a response are two different things. Hopefully, you will take that into consideration as you reply to my colleague across the way.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Just on that, I won't tease Mr. Carr too much about being a new member. I know he's earnestly throwing himself into things here. However, the rules do establish that, at committees, there is a requirement to provide answers. It doesn't mean I have to like the answer, but there has to be an answer to the question. You can't just talk after the other person talks and talk about things that are totally unrelated. Those are the rules.