Evidence of meeting #83 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 ontario.

A video is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Tony Belcourt  As an Individual
Danette Starblanket  Assistant Professor, As an Individual
Solomon Sanderson  Consultant, Former Chief, As an Individual
Linda McVicar  Animakee Wa Zhing 37 First Nation
Ronald Quintal  President, Fort McKay Métis Nation
Steve Meawasige  Council Member, First Nation Band, As an Individual
Clerk of the Committee  Ms. Vanessa Davies

5:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal John Aldag

Yes, it is.

(Motion agreed to: yeas 6; nays 5)

This remains on the books, and when it comes back, we will have the amendments to deal with.

I also previously ruled that, when motions come forward and the clock's running, we let it run. We've reached the end of the five minutes, and we have resources until 5:35.

Anyway, next on the list would be Mr. Carr, and we would have—

5:30 p.m.

Conservative

Jamie Schmale Conservative Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON

I have a point of order, if I could.

Is there a way to extend it so each party gets to finish off their round?

5:30 p.m.

The Clerk of the Committee Ms. Vanessa Davies

We have resources until 5:35.

5:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal John Aldag

Yes, so that's....

It's Mr. Carr's turn.

Okay. Go ahead, Mr. Battiste.

5:30 p.m.

Liberal

Jaime Battiste Liberal Sydney—Victoria, NS

Chief McVicar, you said that the treaties all have to be about land. The peace and friendship treaties in the Atlantic don't speak to land at all. How can you say, if we're talking about treaties in Canada, that they have to be about lands when the peace and friendship treaties don't mention land at all?

5:30 p.m.

Animakee Wa Zhing 37 First Nation

Chief Linda McVicar

That may be, but from what I've witnessed, this is going to be about land because it's already being brought forward at the consultation tables. I—

5:30 p.m.

Liberal

Jaime Battiste Liberal Sydney—Victoria, NS

You do realize that there are first nations treaties in Canada that don't mention land. Is that correct?

5:30 p.m.

Animakee Wa Zhing 37 First Nation

Chief Linda McVicar

I'll have to take your word for that, but this is not what this one is about. I beg to differ about this one.

5:30 p.m.

Liberal

Jaime Battiste Liberal Sydney—Victoria, NS

Okay, so the presumption is that this is a treaty and that this will be about land without having that indicated in the legislation.

5:30 p.m.

Animakee Wa Zhing 37 First Nation

Chief Linda McVicar

I'll tell you again, based on my experience, they're definitely talking about land on a regular basis. They're also talking with proponents about getting into resource agreements. I mean, it's clear and evident, and they're purchasing land, so just to talk about....

5:30 p.m.

Liberal

Jaime Battiste Liberal Sydney—Victoria, NS

Chief, we'll leave it at that. We don't have too much more time.

5:30 p.m.

Animakee Wa Zhing 37 First Nation

Chief Linda McVicar

Yes, that's okay. We can leave it.

5:30 p.m.

Liberal

Jaime Battiste Liberal Sydney—Victoria, NS

That's the only question I have. We have only one minute.

5:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal John Aldag

We're not going to get into another question.

I'll take the last minute to thank our witnesses. Thank you to the three of you for joining us here today.

We were able to confirm a bit of a mix-up with our fourth witness for today, so we will be submitting a request for her to send us a written brief if she would like to.

For the three of you, if you have additional thoughts based on the conversation today, we can take up to 10 additional pages in written material, so please feel free to weigh in with additional comments.

With that, colleagues, I'd like to wish everyone safe travels home. I hope that everyone gets to Remembrance Day ceremonies. Have a safe constituency week, and we will see you when we get back in a week.

The meeting is adjourned.