Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee on Dec. 9th, 2024

[The Chair, Liberal, Patrick Weiler]

Thank you very much, Ms. Idlout.

We're now moving to Mr. Genuis for five minutes.

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

Thank you, Chair.

I want to talk a bit about the issue of indigenous identity fraud. Indigenous identity fraud is an act of anti-reconciliation. It shouldn't happen.

Minister Anandasangaree, you're the minister responsible for reconciliation, so this should be of particular concern to you.

Indigenous leaders have said that indigenous identity fraud is rampant. The AFN has said that substantially more than half of those benefiting from the indigenous procurement program are actually shell companies. You alluded a bit to the indigenous identity fraud issue in your opening comments. The problem is that not a single company has faced consequences for indigenous identity fraud. There have been zero consequences meted out for indigenous identity fraud, despite the fact that indigenous leaders across the board are saying this is rampant.

Do you think it's acceptable that nobody has faced consequences for indigenous identity fraud?

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

No.

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

Then why has nobody faced consequences? What do you think should be done to change that?

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

I believe there is an undertaking by Minister Hajdu to investigate this matter and to ensure that there is compliance. If there isn't compliance, or if there are those who have lied and who have misled in seeking procurement opportunities, then I think there should be consequences. I'm not the one to determine what they should be, but I do think there should be consequences.

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

I understand the difference in roles here, but you said something in your opening comments that I'll quote. You said you have “reports of this strategy being taken advantage of. This is why Indigenous Services Canada is mandated to verify the eligibility of businesses receiving contracts under the procurement strategy for indigenous businesses. These audits led to over 1,100 ...businesses being removed from the indigenous business directory.”

It does seem that you are able to identify businesses that should be removed from the indigenous business directory.

Companies like the Canadian Health Care Agency have been removed from the indigenous business directory. The problem is that once they're removed, there are no further consequences. They're actually able to bid on other government contracts. It doesn't seem that you're having trouble identifying the instances where this has happened; the government is simply just choosing not to impose any consequences on them.

As a case in point, the Canadian Health Care Agency is still getting government contracts. They've been taken off the indigenous business directory, but they're still getting government contracts. Is that acceptable?

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

There are three issues here. The first is the actual directory itself. If individual companies are deemed to be ineligible, first they should be removed from the directory.

Second, if they did obtain contracts as a result of falsification, then I think there should be consequences. Technically, it is a criminal act to lie on a form of that nature. There should be consequences for those who may have received contracts under false pretenses.

Third, of course, there should be a bar on those companies from receiving additional contracts from the government for a period of time.

We can disagree on what justice looks like. For me, progressive penalties are what I believe in, and I—

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

I'm interrupting you just because of the time.

I appreciate your answer, in that you've actually gone further than other ministers—Minister Duclos, for example—were willing to go in acknowledging that, yes, indigenous identity fraud is fraud, and it's criminal, and where possible, there should be criminal consequences and that people should certainly be barred from getting contracts.

How do you explain the fact that Global Health Imports, Randy Boissonnault's company, does not appear to have been referred to the RCMP, that the Canadian Health Care Agency is still able to bid on government contracts, that you have 1,100 businesses removed but nothing referred to the RCMP, and that nobody thus far has been barred from accessing government contracts? Doesn't this suggest that indigenous identity fraud just isn't being taken seriously?

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

I believe there are measures that need to be taken. At the outset, I said that we need to do better. I do believe that there need to be consequences for those who clearly misidentify themselves, whether that's deliberately or not.

Getting them off the list is the first of those consequences, but of course [Inaudible—Editor] escalate further than that.

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

You still think Randy Boissonnault should stay in caucus.

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

I think I've already answered that question, Mr. Genuis.

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

It just seems that with him, you're leaning a lot into the subjectivity and complexity aspect when he has now admitted that he's not indigenous. He's admitted that he misrepresented conversations he's had with an indigenous researcher in the past.

I do appreciate that you've gone further than your ministerial colleagues. I hope they will take up your challenge to improve on the significant failures that you've identified and that we've identified in terms of not dealing with indigenous identity fraud effectively.

[The Chair, Liberal, Patrick Weiler]

Thank you very much, Mr. Genuis.

We're going to our last questioner for the third round, and the last for this panel.

Mr. Carr, you have five minutes.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Ministers, welcome.

Minister Anandasangaree, I'm going to direct my questions to you.

I had the opportunity to engage with Minister Hajdu very recently in the same committee on the topic that we're here to discuss, which is indigenous economic development.

A couple of the things that I know you and I have worked closely on and that the government has been tuned in to over the course of the past nine years or so in my home province of Manitoba have been very sufficiently positive and have made a substantial difference in terms of advancing that collective goal and ambition of economic reconciliation. I think of the downtown Winnipeg project that we're currently dealing with at Portage Place to convert it into a state-of-the-art health care facility. Of course, that doesn't happen without federal contributions.

There's the Bay project, on which, as you know, we're working closely with the Southern Chiefs' Organization to turn that into a very important source of housing and other cultural and historical services in an iconic building in downtown Winnipeg.

There's the national school food program. I know that the Leader of the Opposition and my colleagues across the way have referred to this as bureaucracy. They've said that no food has been served. That's, in fact, incorrect. I've been in classrooms in Manitoba with former teacher colleagues of mine, serving the food that has in fact been subsidized and funded by the federal government.

Beyond that, I think of incredibly important successes like Freedom Road, which helped to benefit the people of Shoal Lake 40 First Nation on the Manitoba-Ontario border. That has contributed to their and the surrounding area's economic development.

I think of some recent announcements that were made by you, by Minister Hajdu and by others in terms of several million dollars' worth of contributions in Manitoba that are going to help lead to the construction of new schools.

All of this being said, Minister, perhaps you can offer your own reflections about the great work we've been able to accomplish in Manitoba and how you feel those initiatives are working toward our collective goal of ensuring economic reconciliation and economic development in Manitoba.

Thank you.

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

Thank you. Let me thank you for the work that you do in Manitoba.

I've been to Manitoba probably close to a dozen times in the last year and a half or so. There are three things I will add to your list.

One would be the number of agricultural benefits that we've signed in Manitoba. These are resolutions to claims that have been around for, essentially, over 100 years. I think that's very historic.

As well, the Dakota and Lakota apology that we did this summer, in July, will continue. We need to do more work in terms of addressing some disparities that exist, but certainly these are improvements that exist.

There was also the Manitoba Métis Federation self-government agreement that we signed just about two weeks ago.

We have a very important partner in Manitoba with Premier Wab Kinew. I think I'm talking about some of the positive stories, but also about doing the right thing.

I think that one of the toughest things I've had to do as a minister is around the Prairie Green landfill. As we speak, we know that the search is taking place now. That is in large measure because of the partnership and the thinking that we have with Premier Kinew.

When it comes to reconciliation, I believe that it should not be a partisan issue. It's one on which we need to work across party lines. As you know, the provincial election in Manitoba was very harmful to many and especially to the families of those who are believed to be on the site.

I want to conclude by thanking you and your colleagues from Manitoba for the great work and the advocacy you do.

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

Thanks, Minister.

In conclusion, perhaps you can offer a comment in terms of the national school food program.

As you know, I spent many years as an educator. I was fortunate to be a teacher and a school principal. I worked with many kids who came from difficult situations, particularly indigenous communities in the northwest part of the city of Winnipeg.

Our colleagues have referred to this program as bureaucracy. Can you offer your own commentary, based on the discussions you've had and the visits that you've had to my hometown of Winnipeg, where food subsidized by the federal government is being served in classrooms?

Why do you believe this is important in ensuring success for indigenous kids in particular, when it comes to their ability to find that type of optimism, hope and success? This is inclusive, of course, of economic development later on in life if they get that early healthy start to school.

Could you quickly comment on that?

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

One of the organizations I worked with for many years was the Children's Breakfast Clubs in Toronto. I've been working with them for about 25 years, and I see the great work that they do.

Ultimately, it's about ensuring that young people have the nutrition, the strength—through actual meals, and the most important meal of the day—to get them through the day. This is about ensuring that food insecurity is addressed.

Affordability is a major issue for Canadians, particularly in Manitoba, and the program assists with that as well. Make no mistake: It is making a difference in the lives of young people. Ultimately, it will have a transformational impact on outcomes. As kids grow older, they will be able to retain and understand more of what they're studying, because they're not just thinking about hunger or not having enough food to eat but focusing on what's important, which is school.

[The Chair, Liberal, Patrick Weiler]

Thank you very much, Mr. Carr.

That will conclude our panel here.

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

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Patrick Weiler]

I have Mr. Lemire on a point of order.

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

Before we adjourn, as it is quite rare for our committee to hear from a Minister of Official Languages and it seems unlikely Ms. Petitpas Taylor will return here any time soon, I would like to take the opportunity to make her aware of something, if I may, of course.

I want to make the minister aware of the importance of learning French in indigenous communities where French is not people's first language. That is the case in my region, Abitibi‑Témiscamingue, where the first nations language in the Témiscamingue region, apart from the Anishinabe language, is English.

The Red River Métis are making the same request. They would like to be able to reconnect with French, which is one of their original languages that gave rise to the Michif language later on.

It is important that French courses be offered in the indigenous communities that request them. That would be a good indication of sensitivity on the part of the government.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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

Mr. Chair, if you'll permit me, I would like to thank our officials for being here today. Of course, that includes our interpreters and everyone who's assisting today.

[The Chair, Liberal, Patrick Weiler]

Thank you you very much, Minister Anandasangaree, Minister Petitpas Taylor and our officials, for joining us today at this hour. Thank you for being flexible because of the timing with votes.

We are going to suspend very briefly before we welcome our next panel, the Métis Nation of Alberta.

We will restart in about five minutes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Patrick Weiler]

Colleagues, I call this meeting back to order.

I want to welcome all of the audience in the gallery here who are joining us tonight at this hour, but I especially want to welcome our witnesses for this panel. We have Andrea Sandmaier, president of the Métis Nation of Alberta, and we have Garrett Tomlinson, senior director, self-government, for the Métis Nation of Alberta. We extend a special welcome to you.

We'll start off with five minutes of opening remarks, after which we'll get into questions from members of the committee.

With that, I will hand the floor over to you for your opening remarks.

[Andrea Sandmaier, President, Otipemisiwak Métis Government]

Thank you, Mr. Chair and members of the committee, for inviting me to appear here today.

My name is Andrea Sandmaier, and I'm the president of the Otipemisiwak Métis Government. I'm happy to be here today with Garrett Tomlinson, our senior director of self-government.

It's an honour to share the work of the Otipemisiwak Métis Government, formerly the Métis Nation of Alberta, and to highlight the incredible strides our government has made in economic development.

Our nation stands as the oldest continuous Métis government in Canada, where economic development has always been a foundational element of our work. Prior to Confederation, it was the Métis who were the key drivers of the northwest economy, as it revolved around the fur trade. Today, many Métis are entrepreneurs, business owners and significant participants in the Canadian economy.

In Alberta, for nearly a century our Métis government has worked hard to continue promoting economic development. One example that we are exceptionally proud of is our housing initiative. Since its inception over 40 years ago, we've grown to become the largest indigenous-owned housing developer in Canada. Operated under two companies, we maintain and manage rental accommodations that currently provide affordable housing to more than 3,000 indigenous Albertans in 14 urban centres throughout Alberta. From supportive housing for seniors to programs for young families, our housing initiatives work to ensure that no one is left behind while we compete in the open market, growing and supporting the economies of the communities we operate in.

Our government knows that economic empowerment is only possible when Métis citizens have the tools they need to succeed. The Rupertsland Institute, our education affiliate, is dedicated to advancing education, employment and training opportunities. It connects Métis citizens to meaningful employment opportunities, skills training and career development resources. Programs like these help Métis citizens move into high-demand industries, address labour market gaps and, ultimately, improve economic outcomes for Métis families.

I would like to add that our success as a government is built on the strength of our citizens and relies on the validity of our world-class citizenship registry. We have the strongest objectively verified registry system in this country. In fact, our citizenship registry is the only indigenous registry in Canada that meets the requirements set out by the Canadian Standards Association. When a citizen of the Otipemisiwak Métis Government holds up their citizenship card, we know unequivocally that this person has proven, by providing documentary evidence, that they are biologically connected to the Métis families who have made up our nation for generations.

The federal government's target of 5% indigenous procurement is an important step forward in addressing the sordid history of the country towards indigenous people, but achieving this target requires the application of equally rigorous standards to ensure it truly benefits indigenous communities. We believe that our registry offers a model for how governments can establish clear and enforceable criteria to ensure indigenous procurement contracts are awarded to legitimate Métis businesses.

As I said, our registry ensures that Métis citizenship is verified through a robust and transparent process, and to date, over 70,000 have gone through that process. By applying a similar standard of verification to indigenous procurement, governments can ensure that opportunities meant for indigenous communities are not diverted to entities with tenuous or questionable claims. Self-identification is simply not enough.

A standardized high-bar verification process would not only protect the integrity of indigenous procurement but also ensure it delivers the economic benefits it promises.

It was the Métis who built this great country 200 years ago, and we stand ready to strengthen and grow Canada's economy today.

Thank you. I look forward to your questions.