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

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

Mr. Chair, I think the intent is to ensure that we're moving forward within language that includes men and women and gender inclusion as part of this discussion. I understand you're saying that we can vote on BQ-1, which is now very similar to CPC-5. Is that what we're doing in terms of being able to move that now, vote on that now, and then have the discussion around the subsequent bill afterwards?

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

Yes.

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

Okay, we're fine with that. Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

Is there any more debate?

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

Just for clarity, I believe what Madame Gill has proposed is exactly what our next amendment would entail. She has actually changed the language to be exactly what our amendment would be. Just for clarity, is that right? That's what I understood. I just wanted to make sure.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

Not seeing any more debate, shall BQ-1, as amended, carry?

(Amendment as amended agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

As you know, Mr. Vidal, just to remind you, CPC-5 is no longer presentable at this point.

With that, shall clause 8 carry with the following amendments that were approved: CPC-4 and modified BQ-1?

(Clause 8 as amended agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

We are now on clause 9.

Shall clause 9 carry?

I am not seeing any desire to debate and I see approval.

(Clause 9 agreed to)

(On clause 10)

We'll start with NDP-3, but I need to remind everybody on the panel here that if NDP-3 is adopted or defeated, then amendments CPC-6 and LIB-1 cannot be moved, as they are identical.

With that, Ms. Idlout, would you like to move and present NDP-3?

[Lori Idlout, NDP, Nunavut, NU]

Qujannamiik, Iksivautaq.

I move that reference number 12027229 be considered. The purpose of this amendment is to add a nomination by the Native Women's Association of Canada to this board.

Qujannamiik.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

Thank you, Ms. Idlout.

Is there a desire to debate? I suspect not. Very good.

(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

With that, CPC-6 will not be presented, nor will LIB-1.

We'll now go to CPC-7 and Mr. Vidal.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I would move that the amendment identified by reference number 12023193 be considered. The purpose of this amendment is very similar to the last one by Ms. Idlout. In this case, we are suggesting that one member would be elected after having been nominated by the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples.

The purpose of this amendment would be to ensure that we have urban indigenous people represented at this table consistently and by that group.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

Thank you, Mr. Vidal. Is there debate on this?

Go ahead, Mr. Battiste.

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

We understand that first nations, Métis and Inuit are recognized within the Constitution. Those are the three groups that we typically have given spots to, and it's consistent with the Constitution Act of Canada. In the age of murdered and missing indigenous women, we feel that adding gender parity and a spot for NWAC is important. However, our government will be opposing a CAP seat for various reasons.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

Thank you, Mr. Battiste.

Are there further inputs?

[Jamie Schmale, Conservative, Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON]

Can we have a recorded vote, Chair?

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

Mr. Schmale is calling for a recorded vote. Does anybody else wish to debate CPC-7?

Not seeing any further—

Go ahead, Madame Gill.

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

I need some clarification, Mr. Chair. Mr. Battiste mentioned gender parity, but I don't understand how that relates to CPC‑7, which refers to the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

Mr. Battiste, do you want to expand a little bit for Madame Gill?

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

I just wanted to make sure that when we're talking about why we've consistently gone with the Assembly of First Nations, MNC, and ITK, there's a reason for that. It's because they have constitutional status and we know their definitions.

With the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples, there is no real definition for whom they represent. We don't know who we're giving a seat to. In terms of the witness testimony that we heard, they said they represented non-status Indians in Canada. That could be just about anyone. Without further definition as to whom they represent, I feel that giving them a seat with the other constitutionally recognized groups is inconsistent.

I only brought up the gender balance and NWAC to explain why we supported the Native Women's Association of Canada's seat, but not the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples, just because there are too many questions as to who they could represent. With that in mind, that's why we're opposing.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

I think that answers Mrs. Gill's question.

Does anyone else wish to debate the amendment?

Go ahead, Mr. Schmale.

[Jamie Schmale, Conservative, Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON]

Thank you, Chair.

I just want to point out to the committee, as we consider our voting, that a couple of times during the testimony we heard from the Athabasca Tribal Council in their written brief and CAP in their written brief talk about more inclusive representation. If we look at off-reserve representation, I think this organization is very vocal and very supportive of the needs of those people, and I think it would be a shame if they weren't included.

Thanks, Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

Thank you, Mr. Schmale.

Are there other points to be raised?

With that, I will ask for a recorded vote, please.

(Amendment agreed to: yeas 6; nays 5 [See Minutes of Proceedings])

Thank you, Madam Clerk. With that, I declare that CPC-7 is carried.

Shall clause 10 carry? Clause 10, of course, is amended by NDP-3 and CPC-7.

(Clause 10 as amended agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

(On clause 11)

That takes us to clause 11, and I will ask Mr. McLeod to present amendment LIB-2.

[Michael McLeod, Liberal, Northwest Territories, NT]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Chair, I'm moving to amend clause 11 by adding after line 4 on page 5 the following:

(2) At least two of the directors must be residents of Yukon, the Northwest Territories or Nunavut.

The intention here is to ensure representation from the territories on the council, as some of the national organizations don't have a presence in the north.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

Thank you, Mr. McLeod.

Is there debate?

Go ahead, Mr. Zimmer.

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC]

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair.

From our perspective, we would support your amendment. We also believe that representation should come from the three territories, at least in the numbers that you mentioned, so we are supportive of your amendment.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

Thank you very much, Mr. Zimmer.

Are there others who wish to debate this?

If not, I will ask—

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

I had my hand up, Mr. Chair.