Thank you, Mr. Chair.
In its 2023‑24 departmental plan, Indigenous Services Canada states the following:
…there is a risk that uncertainty on the interpretation and expectations related to An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families might generate frustration and compromise relationships with Indigenous partners, provinces, and territories.
For some time, we've seen significant amounts of funding being returned to the treasury. I'd like to know your plans to get the money earmarked for indigenous communities to them, so they can work on prevention and fully manage their new responsibilities. How are you going to deliver the funding in such a way that it meets communities' real needs, and is available and readily accessible to them? How are you going to make sure it is not returned to the treasury, something that happens all too often when funding is promised to indigenous peoples?
First nations need to build capacity. Capacity-building is something the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador, in particular, has been pushing hard for. The answers we've gotten on the amounts disbursed and the negotiation process have been quite vague, so as the situation stands, I worry that it's going to generate considerable frustration and compromise partnerships. I urge you to act swiftly.
What steps do you want to take to cut some of the red tape in order to meet the real needs of communities?