Evidence of meeting #23 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 community.

A video is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Paul-Émile Ottawa  Atikamekw Council of Manawan
Raymond Lamont  Chief Negotiator and Special Projects Lead, Tsay Keh Dene Nation
Clerk of the Committee  Ms. Vanessa Davies
Debbie Lipscombe  Executive Director, Grand Council Treaty No. 3
Arnold Lampreau  Shackan Indian Band

3:05 p.m.

Atikamekw Council of Manawan

Chief Paul-Émile Ottawa

I do believe that relationships could be different, in a positive way.

I was asked earlier about my recommendations or suggestions to improve the situation. As I said in my answer, we need to change the way things are done.

I've heard people talk about traditional knowledge. In Quebec, my people still have to fight the forestry industry. Cutting timber in our territories eats up a lot of land and causes both visual and environmental changes.

That is why I implore you, let’s work together to better fight climate change affecting the North, namely regions near the Arctic such as Quebec.

I rely heavily on collaboration and cooperation. We need to work together to ensure a better future for our youth.

3:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Marc Garneau

Thank you, Mr. Shields.

We'll finish with Mr. Badawey. You have five minutes.

3:05 p.m.

Liberal

Vance Badawey Liberal Niagara Centre, ON

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I want to thank all the witnesses for being here this afternoon. I want to preface my questions by saying—

3:05 p.m.

The Clerk

I'm sorry to interrupt, Mr. Chair. Mr. Badawey's mike is not selected.

3:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Marc Garneau

Okay. Thank you very much.

3:05 p.m.

Liberal

Vance Badawey Liberal Niagara Centre, ON

How's that?

June 3rd, 2022 / 3:05 p.m.

The Clerk

It seems to be fine now. Thank you, Mr. Badawey.

3:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Marc Garneau

Go ahead.

3:05 p.m.

Liberal

Vance Badawey Liberal Niagara Centre, ON

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

One of the reasons I brought this study forward to the committee, as the parliamentary secretary for Indigenous Services Canada, was mentioned earlier. It was to build capacity and ensure that, with that said, we have the opportunity to partner with the different communities and different chiefs, such as Chief Lampreau and Chief Ottawa, to look at strengthening Indigenous Services Canada's role in emergency management. As I'm sure many in the room recognize, its role in emergency management is to strengthen that resiliency, and we do it by emphasizing the four pillars of emergency management: mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.

I have two questions for both Chief Lampreau and Chief Ottawa. First, within those four pillars, where do you see us strengthening the emergency management assistance program that we offer, the first nations and Inuit health program that we offer, the indigenous community support fund that we offer and the first nation infrastructure fund and structural mitigation that we offer?

For my second question, to add to that, how can we also leverage that and the investments that we make to then promote other infrastructure investments as they relate to strengthening the economy, strengthening health care and strengthening other areas that may be of interest to indigenous communities?

I'll start off with Chief Ottawa.

3:10 p.m.

Atikamekw Council of Manawan

Chief Paul-Émile Ottawa

Thank you for the question.

The society we live in, especially in this era of humanity, presents significant challenges for us. We need to reduce the effects of climate change. Society industrialized from 1875 onwards, and it only took 140 years to create the situation we are enduring now. We have big problems to tackle. There are immeasurable and urgent challenges that we must address together.

They say the atmosphere is ruined. Maybe we need tougher regulations on industry to stop deforestation, among other things. Maybe we should require farmers to turn to more diversified and integrated agriculture. These examples come to mind when you ask me this question.

We should also encourage people to consume less. We should regulate various industry sectors to limit the obsolescence of all kinds of appliances. This obsolescence forces people to keep buying more efficient equipment, resulting in more pollution and even more harm to the environment.

3:10 p.m.

Liberal

Vance Badawey Liberal Niagara Centre, ON

Thank you, Chief Ottawa.

Go ahead, Chief Lampreau.

3:10 p.m.

Shackan Indian Band

Chief Arnold Lampreau

Thank you for the questions.

Right now, Shackan band is in the highway corridor. When we look at what has happened here in the last year and over the last few years, even back to 2013 and 2017, there were mudslides and different things like that which affected our community. When we look at the economic development part or the economic viability, or even the chances of it, they are very slim to none. When we look at the amount of work that could potentially be done right now, the only thing that's really going to be beneficial to the Shackan band is the gravel pit, because of the highway rebuild through the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, and that's probably it. There is going to be a little bit of employment through that rebuild.

For economics or looking to the future, we need to look at other places to live or to move to. There is no chance of economics when you have a major devastation within your community, part of your band lands are no longer there.

You look at places like Kamloops or Westbank or you look at Osoyoos, and they basically have lakes and cities near them. There's the potential viability for development and economics and taxes. In building Sun Rivers, such as Kamloops did, you have that chance to gain revenue through housing potentials and leasing your land.

There's none of that where we live. I invite you. I've told Minister Hajdu, Minister Rankin and Minister Farnworth to come on out. I'll take you out there. I'll drive you there, and you'll actually see what's happening. Come on out.

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

Vance Badawey Liberal Niagara Centre, ON

Thank you, Chief. I think I'll take you up on that offer.

To both chiefs, we look forward to working with you on this file upon conclusion of this study. It sounds like we have some work to do.

Thank you for your testimony today.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Marc Garneau

Thank you, Mr. Badawey.

With that, I would like to thank our four witnesses today, Chief Lampreau, Debbie Lipscombe, Raymond Lamont and Chief Paul-Émile Ottawa.

As Mr. Badawey said, what this is all about is the fact that we need to deal with increased numbers of emergency situations due to climate change. What will help this committee the most is to come up with ways to not only mitigate but also to prepare, in some cases, where it's going to happen, to deal with it when it does happen and then, of course, to recover from it afterwards.

Thank you very much for your testimony today.

Thank you for your frank responses to our questions. You live in an area vulnerable to climate change and the emergencies it causes. We are glad to have had the benefit of the expertise and advice of those who live there.

Thank you once again for giving your time today to help us with our study on emergency preparedness. Thank you.

With that, this meeting is now adjourned.