Evidence of meeting #33 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 president.

A video is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Alexandra Schorah  Senior Legislative Counsel, Legislative Services, House of Commons
Émilie Thivierge  Legislative Clerk
Chief RoseAnne Archibald  Assembly of First Nations
Clerk of the Committee  Ms. Vanessa Davies
Natan Obed  President, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
Cassidy Caron  President, Métis National Council
Harold Calla  Executive Chair, First Nations Financial Management Board
Chief Carol McBride  President, Native Women's Association of Canada
Chief Gérard Coulombe  President, Native Alliance of Quebec
Allison MacIntosh  Legal Technical Advisor, Native Women's Association of Canada

12:55 p.m.

Liberal

Patrick Weiler Liberal West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, BC

Thank you.

My next question is for Mr. Calla.

In our conversation earlier today, you mentioned some of the work you're doing on international ESG standards. This new body is going to be created and incorporated under the Not-for-profit Corporations Act.

What recommendations would you have for this body in terms of how its articles of incorporation could ensure that it's going to have a robust system that will enable it to effectively deliver on its mandate?

12:55 p.m.

Executive Chair, First Nations Financial Management Board

Harold Calla

Wow.

I think the scope of what this council is able to do can't be limited. That's the first thing. It needs to go where the truth needs to be found.

I think that the economic reality of the international community being unhappy with how our global economy has conducted itself over the last years has created a movement called ESG—environmental standards and governance. I actually say it's “ESGI” because there's an “I” in every one of those. “I” is for indigenous.

In part, I think this body can help reinforce that through its annual reports to Parliament about how that's progressing. A lot happens in this country. A lot of conversations are taking place within the federal government on ways to achieve economic reconciliation. I think that requires systemic change and a recognition of the impacts of colonialism on the ability of first nations to have a meaningful place in the capital markets, as an example.

There are lots of ways in which this council could support that so that we can address the poverty in our communities, provide opportunities for our young people and have them come home once they're educated because we've got something for them to do at home. Those are critical things that we need to do.

We just can't continue to feed the symptoms of poverty with money. We've got to find a solutions. I believe that a solution is to provide a better opportunity to be self-governing and to develop our own solutions.

The First Nations Fiscal Management Act is the most successful piece of legislation dealing with Indians in the history of this country. There are 345 first nations across the country that have chosen to become involved. The first nations finance authorities provided, by the end of this year, at the request of first nations, $2 billion worth of funding through debt that they wanted in order to support economic development, create employment in their communities and create that well-being index.

1 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Marc Garneau

Mr. Calla, I'm going to have to ask you to close it off quickly. Thank you.

Mrs. Gill, you have the floor for a minute and a half, if you'd like.

1 p.m.

Bloc

Marilène Gill Bloc Manicouagan, QC

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I have one last question for all the witnesses.

Mr. Calla, there has been a lot of talk about representation. Which organizations do you think should be on the board of directors?

Also, do you think there should be some kind of sectoral representation? Mr. Calla talked a lot about the economy. Of course, we represent all the nations and demographic strata, ideally, but certain sectors should also be represented by first nations.

You have at most 30 seconds to answer, but you can always send additional information to the committee. We greatly appreciate it.

Perhaps you could start, Mr. Coulombe.

1 p.m.

President, Native Alliance of Quebec

Grand Chief Gérard Coulombe

I sincerely believe that there should be representatives involved development. I think that's important. The other sectors should also be represented. Of course, there should also be a place for organizations working in the indigenous community. Speaking out of pure self‑interest, the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples should have a place, as should the Native Women's Association of Canada.

1 p.m.

Executive Chair, First Nations Financial Management Board

Harold Calla

I don't disagree with a sectoral approach, but I think we need to recognize that this council is going to have to establish a number of its own committees to engage more broadly across the country. I know that I keep reiterating and repeating myself, but this needs to be funded. This is going to replace a lot of the unfulfilled processes that we've seen in my 30 years of coming here.

1 p.m.

Legal Technical Advisor, Native Women's Association of Canada

Allison MacIntosh

Thank you for your question.

Beyond legislating NWAC specifically into the board of directors, we would have to canvass our board of directors about specific organizations and other sectors that could be included in the legislation.

We do ask this honourable committee this: If NWAC cannot be included and heard here, during the creation of a reconciliation board of directors and against the backdrop of an ongoing genocide, where can NWAC be included and heard? Thank you.

1 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Marc Garneau

Thank you.

Madame Idlout, you will have 90 seconds.

1 p.m.

NDP

Lori Idlout NDP Nunavut, NU

Qujannamiik. I just have a very quick question.

I know that in Inuit culture, and from what I've learned with first nations and Métis cultures as well, we all place prominence on our elders. I was struck by the absence of elders in any of clause 12, and I wonder if you would agree that ensuring that there is a representative—an elder from each of the cultures—would also be important.

Qujannamiik.

1 p.m.

President, Native Alliance of Quebec

1 p.m.

Executive Chair, First Nations Financial Management Board

Harold Calla

I think you have to have elders' representation. I recall being in one of my community's meetings where we were asking our elders for some advice, and they turned to us and said, “That's why you're up there”, so we have to be careful what we put upon them.

That's my only caution. I think it's always helpful to have elders' guidance, but let's be careful about what we put upon them.

1 p.m.

Legal Technical Advisor, Native Women's Association of Canada

Allison MacIntosh

Thank you for your question.

Something else that NWAC does, which makes us unique among organizations, is that we do in fact have elders represented on our board of directors and throughout our organization. I think that's a unique perspective that NWAC will be able to bring to a truth and reconciliation board of directors.

October 17th, 2022 / 1 p.m.

President, Native Women's Association of Canada

Grand Chief Carol McBride

Just to add to that, this morning I wanted to bring an elder with me. I think it's important for elders to play a part in anything we do, especially anything that we do in public.

1 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Marc Garneau

Thank you very much.

This brings our panel to an end. It was a very, very good panel.

Thank you so much to all of the witnesses who came today. We thank Mr. Harold Calla from the First Nations Financial Management Board.

I'd also like to thank Grand Chief Gérard Coulombe, the president of the Native Alliance of Quebec.

Also, thanks to Carol McBride and Allison MacIntosh from the Native Women's Association of Canada. It was extremely important for us to hear you as we deliberate on Bill C-29, so thank you for giving us your time today and your thoughts.

With that, committee members, our next meeting will be this Thursday, and we'll continue our discussion on Bill C-29.

With that, this committee is adjourned.