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

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

I'm aware that there are some questionable factors involving Dalian. That's why I'm asking questions about it.

Could you clarify this, please? If it was suspended or removed on March 1, what was the reason that it was removed?

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

I will just reiterate that the purpose of the list is to support—

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

No, Minister. I want you to answer the question. Why was it removed?

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

I will just reiterate that the purpose of the list—

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

No, Minister. You will answer the question. Why was it removed?

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

I have a question for you, Mr. Genuis.

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

No. There may come a time when that's a possibility, but it's not today.

Maybe the deputy minister can answer, if the minister doesn't know.

Could our deputy minister share with us why it was removed?

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

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair. I don't know if I'm allowed to do that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Patrick Weiler]

I'm going to pause. There's some crosstalk happening here, and the member has asked a question. We should give the minister an opportunity to answer it before jumping into the next question.

Therefore, I'm going to restart the time.

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

My question is simple. Either the minister can answer it, or maybe the deputy minister can answer it.

Why was Dalian Enterprises removed from the list?

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

Mr. Chair, through you, I've given an answer to that question, and the list is not a permanent list—

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

No, you haven't.

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

—engraved in stone, as the member would know.

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

Why was it removed from the list, though?

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

Certainly, that list is something that is reviewed as per the request of other departments. The list exists—let's remind members—to ensure that economic development opportunities are there for indigenous businesses.

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

Thank you, Minister. Again, this reference to economic development is completely different from what you said when you appeared in March.

Your officials testified before the government operations committee last week that Dalian was removed because of reports in The Globe and Mail. Can you confirm that the decision to remove Dalian from the indigenous business list was based on things that your department read in The Globe and Mail? That's what your officials told us.

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

Through you, Mr. Chair, that member may not think that this is about economic development, likely because his party has never focused on economic development for indigenous people—

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

Minister, nobody is fooled by this. I asked a simple, clear question.

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

—but that is the purpose of the list. The list is there to make sure that indigenous businesses—

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

Minister, nobody is fooled by this. I asked a simple, clear question—

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

—have opportunities to compete for contracts.

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

—and you're not answering it.

[The Chair, Liberal, Patrick Weiler]

There's too much crosstalk happening right now. It makes it very difficult for the interpreters to do their work. We've had numerous warnings and directives about this. I want to again remind members not to have this kind of crosstalk.

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

I agree.

Could the minister answer the question, please?

[The Chair, Liberal, Patrick Weiler]

With that, I will restart the time. There's about a minute left.