Evidence of meeting #26 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 communities.
A video is available from Parliament.
4 p.m.
Volunteer, Kugluktuk Search and Rescue, As an Individual
I think funding would be a huge part. Right now, a lot of the funding comes from local fundraising, local efforts and donations. We did have local mines in the area providing a lot of money, but they're drying up. Those mines are shutting down. Support from provincial and territorial governments would be great.
We are basically doing this on our own. We do a good job, but imagine what we could do with help.
Thank you.
4 p.m.
Liberal
Jenica Atwin Liberal Fredericton, NB
Thank you.
I'd like to ask a question of Ms. Cardinal.
We've had some witnesses testify about the evacuation process. I'd like to know what that looks like from your side.
Can you walk us through the process of when the Red Cross is engaged to help support a community? Are there timelines and communication mechanisms? Are distances considered, as far as how far you're taking community members away to an evacuation place?
I'd just like some clarity around some of the processes once you're engaged.
4 p.m.
Director, Indigenous Relations, Canadian Red Cross
Sarah, can I have you start?
June 14th, 2022 / 4 p.m.
Sarah Sargent Vice-President, Programs, Emergency Management, Canadian Red Cross
Thank you for the question.
The dependency is on how fast we can respond, what that response looks like and where the evacuation location is. Which communities have the capacity to support communities in a safe way is very much dependent on the location of the disaster itself, and there's the recognition of the scale and scope of the event.
It's really about looking at what the standards are in terms of receiving requests for evacuations, putting in place conversations with community and community leadership—as well as the authorities and responsibility holders—on how we are going to make decisions if we have a community that is displaced. How do we make decisions on where they will be located, the type of housing and accommodation provided, and who the partner organizations are?
One thing we're really trying to recognize in an evacuation approach is that we need to do work at the forefront. How are we building those relationships with communities at risk? How are we understanding the natural support structures that provide services in times outside of disaster? How are we looking at the needs and requirements that are distinct for that population, which we need to maintain and continue in evacuation?
There are many different parameters. I think the key message I would like to bring is about what we are doing beforehand. How are we looking at the prevention of the evacuation in the first place? Many times communities have to evacuate because they don't have access to the right materials and capacities to shelter in place. We know that in many cases this is a first choice. Is there investment that we can be making to build that capacity in communities, so that they can stay safe and really use evacuation as a last resort?
As we talk about prevention and about the recognition that these events are only going to continue to grow in scale and uncertainty, I really hope that we can be looking at new ways of working together.
4:05 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Marc Garneau
Thank you, Mrs. Atwin.
We're going to go to our next speaker.
Ms. Gill, you have the floor for six minutes.
4:05 p.m.
Bloc
Marilène Gill Bloc Manicouagan, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I would like to thank all the witnesses with us today.
I have a number of questions for Mr. Pedersen. I am quite interested in what he said about land and various needs.
I would like him to elaborate on what his community is facing, using specific examples. People talk about crises in general, so all kinds of crises.
I would like to know whether his community was consulted about its needs. I will then move on to my other questions for him.
4:05 p.m.
Volunteer, Kugluktuk Search and Rescue, As an Individual
I could barely hear that. Do you want some examples, of what? I'm sorry.
4:05 p.m.
Bloc
Marilène Gill Bloc Manicouagan, QC
Can you tell us what specific situations your community is facing?
4:05 p.m.
Volunteer, Kugluktuk Search and Rescue, As an Individual
I believe the most important search and rescues happen within the shoulder seasons. Like right now, there are people at home, both snowmobiling and boating. That will create problems for searches with the fact that.... Who goes to search? If I have to go by boat and snowmobile, whose responsibility is it—GSAR, coast guard, both? Who do I call? Who calls the shots?
Shoulder seasons are very hard to deal with, because we do have a lack of equipment and a lack of proper safety gear. The mid-winter and mid-summer are a little easier to deal with, because it's simply just one type of vehicle. You can head out and, hopefully, find the person you're looking for.
I hope that was what you were seeking.
4:05 p.m.
Bloc
Marilène Gill Bloc Manicouagan, QC
Actually, I would like to cast the net wider. As you said earlier, you wear all the hats at the same time in your communities. You live there, but you are also the first responders.
What other situations do you face? I mean crises or situations you are afraid of facing in Nunavut.
4:05 p.m.
Volunteer, Kugluktuk Search and Rescue, As an Individual
A few years ago, a ship actually did run aground about 50 miles from our community. I believe we were the first responders. For us to go out there with our little boats and help out this ship full of people... We need more resources. How many little boats do you think it would take to off-load a ship? That's a whole lot. I'm not sure our community has enough boats if we get a big cruise ship. There have been examples in the past of ships actually running aground, having us going to help them out.
Other examples would be more local. We have community members, like me, who travel very far, sometimes hundreds of miles, but lately, in this day and age, we do have inReach, Spot devices and things like that which do assist, but not everybody has that.
4:05 p.m.
Bloc
Marilène Gill Bloc Manicouagan, QC
Were you consulted about your needs or what would make it easier to respond to crises and rescue situation? Was your community consulted?
4:05 p.m.
Volunteer, Kugluktuk Search and Rescue, As an Individual
As far as I know, no, we haven't.
4:05 p.m.
Bloc
Marilène Gill Bloc Manicouagan, QC
I know you have various avenues to suggest to us.
Since I may not have the time to ask you about all situations, it would be very interesting if you could send us your notes later on.
In your introductory presentation, you mentioned a roundtable, among other things. How do you see a roundtable and how would it function? Who should participate? What would the objectives of the roundtable be? Your answers will be helpful to us before we make our recommendations.
4:10 p.m.
Volunteer, Kugluktuk Search and Rescue, As an Individual
Yes, a round table would benefit us a lot, because more heads equal more solutions. The diversity of people getting together and coming up with ideas just generates a lot more progress, I guess. I hope that's what you're looking for. I think more heads equal better solutions.
4:10 p.m.
Bloc
Marilène Gill Bloc Manicouagan, QC
I would like to explore this further.
You said that a number of people should take part in these roundtables. What would the objectives be? Should we also talk about funding? Would they be consultative roundtables, roundtables including rangers, the Coast Guard and the various levels of government?
I would like to get an idea of what you would like.
4:10 p.m.
Volunteer, Kugluktuk Search and Rescue, As an Individual
I'd like to see the coast guard, GSAR ,and federal and territorial representatives all get together, sit down and hash out solutions. As I said earlier, the more heads that get together on this, the better results we may get for the people we're actually looking for, the people we're trying to save.
When we're on searches, absolutely every second counts, and if we can all meet together and reduce our time by even 10, 15 or 20 seconds, it will save lives.
4:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Marc Garneau
Thank you, Ms. Gill.
We'll now go to Ms. Idlout.
Ms. Idlout, you have six minutes.
4:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Marc Garneau
Madam Idlout, we're not getting translation at the moment.
Could we check into that, please?
I'll start your clock over.
4:10 p.m.
NDP
Lori Idlout NDP Nunavut, NU
[Member spoke in Inuktitut, interpreted as follows:]
Thank you. First of all, for those of you who are here to give a presentation, thank you very much. Your presentations are very interesting, and I would like to remind the other members of Parliament to remember Calvin. We will be going to Kugluktuk, to his hometown. We will need Calvin when we get there. We will meet him. He will of course be able to help us when we come to his community for a meeting.
Calvin, I have a question for you. Could you describe for me the importance of the Canadian Rangers program for the Arctic, along with the work of search and rescue? How important is that?