Evidence of meeting #99 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.
NDP
Director General, Act Respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis Children, Youth and Families Branch, Department of Indigenous Services
Yes, that's correct. It has not been completed.
NDP
Leah Gazan NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Where is it in the process of being agreed upon? It's one thing to provide jurisdiction, as with Peguis. I totally support that. I'm a Manitoban. Over 90% of kids currently in the child welfare system are first nations or indigenous.
I totally support that, but there doesn't seem to be a measure. Am I right? Is it just arbitrary amounts of money, or is there a measure to ensure that kids will receive funding equal to that for kids off reserve?
Director General, Act Respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis Children, Youth and Families Branch, Department of Indigenous Services
I just want to make sure I understand your question. Your question is not whether you'll receive the same amount of money through the program or the act. Your question is about on reserve versus off reserve.
NDP
Leah Gazan NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Yes. Will they receive the same resources as kids off reserve? Will it be the same? Has that been determined?
Director General, Act Respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis Children, Youth and Families Branch, Department of Indigenous Services
I think I would have to return with a written answer to your question. I don't want to tell you something erroneously.
In terms of what the act allows, the program authorities are typically on-reserve authorities. The act authorities do allow things like prevention services to happen off reserve, absolutely.
NDP
Leah Gazan NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
For example, in the case of prevention services, will the same allotment per child be given to kids who are on reserve and off reserve?
Director General, Act Respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis Children, Youth and Families Branch, Department of Indigenous Services
Oh, I see. I would have to return with a written answer.
Director General, Act Respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis Children, Youth and Families Branch, Department of Indigenous Services
Absolutely.
NDP
Leah Gazan NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Thank you so much.
Moving on, will the allocations account for geographical differences? For example, we know that caring for kids in rural and remote communities, in terms of main necessities like milk and water, is more expensive. Will the funding allocations account for regional differences?
Director General, Act Respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis Children, Youth and Families Branch, Department of Indigenous Services
That's a really important question. Absolutely, if you look at a community that's close to Vancouver or Montreal versus a community that's in northern Manitoba, of course the costs are different. Yes, it does account for that.
NDP
Leah Gazan NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
With all due respect, I'm asking all these questions related to financing after the current government just spent years battling in court over being found to be wilfully racially discriminating against first nations kids. We have now put forward Bill C-92. We're talking good talk about reconciliation, but we still haven't figured out the financial resources. There has been a pattern of normalized discrimination against indigenous kids in this country.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal John Aldag
Thank you.
Next up in this round is Mr. Shields.
You're good for five minutes.
Conservative
Martin Shields Conservative Bow River, AB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you to the witnesses for being here today on a very crucial topic. I really appreciate it.
Yes, we received the information about the number of people who have made requests. None have been approved to this point.
Director General, Act Respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis Children, Youth and Families Branch, Department of Indigenous Services
Do you mean regarding capacity building?
Director General, Act Respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis Children, Youth and Families Branch, Department of Indigenous Services
No, 223 have been approved.
Director General, Act Respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis Children, Youth and Families Branch, Department of Indigenous Services
Yes.
Conservative
Martin Shields Conservative Bow River, AB
In that process, the funding has gone through a different flow mechanism. Will it 100% go directly to those 223?