Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee on Nov. 14th, 2022

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

My apologies.

The floor is yours, Mrs. Gill.

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

I have a question about the north.

As you know, Nunavik is in northern Quebec. It's not a territory strictly speaking, but the realities are similar whether it's the Yukon, the Northwest Territories or Nunavut, if we're talking about what needs changing. Why would we limit it to the territories? Why wouldn't we include northern ridings like the one that is home to the Inuit of Nunavik?

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

Thank you, Mrs. Gill.

Mr. McLeod, do you wish to answer Madame Gill's question?

[Michael McLeod, Liberal, Northwest Territories, NT]

Yes, Mr. Chairman, that's the concern. There is the possibility for many of the regions in the north—for example, Labrador and northern Quebec—to be represented by ITK. However, if people from those regions are selected, then that leaves the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and the Yukon out, and also, for example, MNC has no presence in any of the three territories. AFN has no presence in the Yukon, so we could very well have selection from AFN from the south. We could have selection from ITK from Labrador, and that leaves us without anybody from the territories.

We're asking for consideration so that we have some representation on this body.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

Thank you, Mr. McLeod.

Does that answer your question, Mrs. Gill?

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

It partially answers my question.

I understand wanting to include the territories and ensuring that they are represented. You mentioned Labrador as an example, but you could also consider the riding of Abitibi—Baie‑James—Nunavik—Eeyou or my riding. The same is true for all of them: they likely won't be represented on the board. I realize they aren't territories, strictly speaking, but the fact remains that a large part of the population in those ridings is indigenous.

I can, nevertheless, go along with the amendment to include the territories, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

Thank you, Mrs. Gill.

Does anyone else wish to comment on the amendment?

It doesn't look like it.

In that case, shall Liberal amendment 2 carry?

(Amendment agreed to)

With that, shall clause 11, as amended by LIB-2, carry?

(Clause 11 as amended agreed to)

(On clause 12)

There are quite a few things that we're going to be going through in clause 12, and I hope we can all keep it straight as we go through them.

We will start with amendment CPC-8. Mr. Vidal, do you wish to move it?

[Gary Vidal, Conservative, Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK]

I do, Mr. Chair. Thank you. I move that the amendment identified by reference number 11961192 be considered by the committee.

My explanation is based on what we did in clause 8 earlier, where we added clause 12 into the reference in clause 8, which is around the first board of directors. What I'm proposing to do with this amendment is to remove the component that says, “Beginning on the fifth anniversary of the day on which the Council is incorporated” to suggest that the makeup that we agree to when we've done with clause 12—I understand there are a number of proposed amendments here—would be effective with the first board of directors, rather than just after five years. We heard that testimony on a number of occasions, so that would be the purpose of this amendment.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

Just to be sure I'm clear in my mind on CPC-8, what you're really doing here is removing the words “to the extent possible”?

[Gary Vidal, Conservative, Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK]

No.

What I believe I'm doing, if I don't have my wires crossed on this, is removing the words “Beginning on the fifth anniversary of the day on which the Council is incorporated”.

Does that make sense? Basically, what it would do is say that the makeup of the board of directors as identified in clause 12 would be effective immediately, not in five years. It would be effective with the first board of directors.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

That's understood. Thank you, Mr. Vidal.

For debate, we have Mr. Battiste.

[Jaime Battiste, Liberal, Sydney—Victoria, NS]

We are okay to get rid of the wording “Beginning on the fifth anniversary of the day on which the Council is incorporated”. However, we ask that we continue with “to the extent possible”.

We've given a number of seats out for other people to fill. If one of those people should resign or if there are some kinds of difficulties, we wouldn't want to delay the start of the council to have everyone picked right away. We believe that if we keep “to the extent possible”, we allow the committee to start the valuable work that they need to do without having to worry about any delays from not having full representation from all of the different folks that we've given seats to—if that's agreeable.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

Mr. Vidal, do you want to comment on that?

[Gary Vidal, Conservative, Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK]

Can I take a minute to discuss this with my peers?

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

Yes.

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

I have something to say, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

Just a second, Mrs. Gill.

Go ahead, Mr. Vidal.

[Gary Vidal, Conservative, Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK]

We are amenable to that suggestion. We're okay with leaving that part in, so what process do we need to do to get there?

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

I just consulted the legislative clerk, and you will have to propose a subamendment to the CPC-8 amendment. It will have to be received in writing. We'll suspend briefly so that we can make sure everybody sees the right version of it in English and in French.

[Gary Vidal, Conservative, Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK]

Wouldn't it be easier if we just did it?

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

No, we want to stay away from friendly amendments because this is the law. We're getting into a very important piece of legislation. I brought that up myself.

[Jaime Battiste, Liberal, Sydney—Victoria, NS]

Mr. Chair, because the wording is already in there and the amendment is—

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

You're subamending the amendment, which has removed the words. You're saying that you would like them back in.

[Jaime Battiste, Liberal, Sydney—Victoria, NS]

Do I have to do this in handwriting?

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

It has to be in writing.