Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee on Nov. 17th, 2025

[The Chair, Liberal, Terry Sheehan]

We need a brief answer, please.

[Rebecca Alty, Liberal, Northwest Territories, NT]

I wouldn't be able to discuss any personnel issue, but it is about reviewing all of the targets that we haven't met and really taking a look at why that is. Perhaps a pandemic hits and X, Y and Z have to happen.

It is about reviewing those results on an annual basis, but whether somebody is reprimanded for X, Y and Z would be a personnel issue that I wouldn't be able to discuss.

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

The department's getting bigger—

[The Chair, Liberal, Terry Sheehan]

Thank you very much. That's time.

We have MP Lavack for six minutes, please.

[Ginette Lavack, Liberal, St. Boniface—St. Vital, MB]

Good afternoon.

I would like to welcome the honourable ministers and thank them for participating in the committee today.

I'll start with a question for both ministers.

Since the tabling of the budget, you have undoubtedly met with indigenous leaders, chiefs and partners. Could you share the feedback received on the ground so far and the reaction to the 2025 budget?

[Rebecca Alty, Liberal, Northwest Territories, NT]

The budget is over 400 pages long. People like so many different things about this budget. However, I can think of a number of things in particular.

It's a bit of a financial, economic, autonomy and growth package that I would say is the monetizing of federal transfers, the bonding and surety, the special purpose vehicles, as well as accelerating the additions to reserve process.

In my speaking notes, I talked a little bit about the benefit of the bonding and sureties. I can't underscore that enough. We can have a target of 5% of procurement, but if indigenous businesses can't bid because they can't get bonding because they don't have assets that they can use as collateral, then we're never going to meet that 5%. In discussions with a number of leaders, this issue was raised and a suggestion was made.

It's the same with the special purpose vehicles. They allow a number of first nations, Métis and Inuit businesses to be able to actually come together as one company. That reduces the risk because the loan is actually looked at from a project perspective as opposed to the individual nation's health. If they're looking to buy equity into X, Y or Z project, it's actually the review of the project.

Monetizing federal transfers is frequently what municipalities are able to do with stuff like the Canada community-building fund. They're able to get a loan from the bank by showing that they have annual funding coming in from the federal government. Instead of having to save up all their money to be able to buy their water, to install the water treatment plant or...the school or houses, they're actually able to get a loan with those federal transfer payments as a monetization.

There are some of those policy things. Of course, there are also the tax cuts, the consumer carbon price reduction, the automatic tax enrolments, the housing and the infrastructure.

I would say there are a bundle of packages to increase the financial and economic opportunities, as well as just the taxes, infrastructure and budget.

[Rebecca Chartrand, Liberal, Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB]

I've had the opportunity to meet with a number of our leaders throughout northern Manitoba and have ongoing discussions with some of the leaders in the territories, as well. I think this budget brings new opportunities like never before, so those are the discussions we're focusing on.

Some of the things in particular are major projects. We're really happy that Grays Bay is on the major projects list, as well as Churchill Plus.

There is an ongoing conversation about how we will continue to engage indigenous peoples in conversations. A number of those conversations are happening right now. Those are engagement sessions happening across the provinces and the territories.

Those aren't consultations. One of the things we're clarifying with indigenous rights holders is that these are engagement sessions. Once projects get referred to the major projects list for approval, we will continue to engage and pull together a conditions list that will give indigenous leaders the opportunity to ensure that their requests are being met and included on those conditions lists.

We're also hearing about procurement. I know that with the increase in budget, northerners are really excited about the opportunity for enhanced procurement. That's something we continue to discuss. We continue to have those conversations and, as Minister Alty said, we are looking at ways to enhance those opportunities to ensure that northerners have access to those procurement opportunities in the north.

Housing is a big one. A lot of our communities, as you know, are looking for more housing opportunities. I think Build Canada Homes and the $13 billion that was set aside for it is going to allow us to double housing, so we're working effectively with northern and indigenous communities. With the Nunavut Housing Corporation, for example, we're looking to fast-track.

We'll continue to meet with indigenous partners, indigenous leadership and northern territorial governments to ensure that their voices are heard and we're working collaboratively as we move forward.

[Ginette Lavack, Liberal, St. Boniface—St. Vital, MB]

Thank you.

I've almost run out of time.

[The Chair, Liberal, Terry Sheehan]

That's perfect.

Mr. Lemire, you have the floor for six minutes.

[Sébastien Lemire, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Ms. Alty, thank you for joining us.

Your government announced $14 million in the budget to restructure the additions to reserve policy. Obviously, this includes the remainder of the $43 million in funding over four years announced in 2021. I'm saying this because it seems that a great deal of this budget consists of recycled revenue rather than new money.

In my region, the Long Point and Wolf Lake first nations still don't have reserve lands. Despite the good will, no progress has been made in four years of negotiations with your department. I feel strongly about this key issue. The lack of land bases directly affects the population, which will suffer as a result.

Why, in 2025, are these communities still not recognized by Ottawa?

[Rebecca Alty, Liberal, Northwest Territories, NT]

That's quite a technical question.

Can you answer that question, Ms. Gideon?

[Valerie Gideon]

Yes, thank you.

We were also asked this question at the special assembly of first nations chiefs in Winnipeg in September. We're in talks with our Indigenous Services Canada colleagues to follow up on this issue.

[Sébastien Lemire, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

Are you committed to meeting with these communities? How does this work? What are the processes? How can this money be invested in communities that lack access to reserve land?

[Valerie Gideon]

We usually have negotiation tables with the community. When it comes to the recognition of a community or a separation from another community, we work with our colleagues at Indigenous Services Canada.

So, yes, we could commit to meeting with them.

[Sébastien Lemire, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

Good.

Minister Alty, will you commit to meeting with them within 90 days? I'm saying this because Mr. Anandasangaree gave us that figure two weeks ago when he appeared before our committee to discuss the situation regarding indigenous policing, an issue that also affects the Long Point community.

[Rebecca Alty, Liberal, Northwest Territories, NT]

I'll speak with the chiefs to see when it would be a good time to visit them. If it isn't before the end of the year, it might be in January. It's really important.

In terms of additions to reserves, not all indigenous communities will benefit from them. However, this major issue comes up in my meetings with many chiefs, particularly chiefs in the Prairies and Ontario. We must work together, look at this issue at every different stage of the process and consider whether we need to do this. Perhaps we can do this after the addition to reserves.

[Sébastien Lemire, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

I can confirm that this request was made by these two indigenous communities. I would be happy to welcome you and to join you in meeting with them, if I can be of assistance.

In its budget brief, the Assembly of First Nations Quebec‑Labrador, or AFNQL, requested funding to provide interpretation and translation services within its organization. The two main language families in Quebec, Algonquian and Iroquoian, include many indigenous languages. As you know, the unique reality of the first nations of Quebec and Labrador means that some communities speak French, some speak English and some are bilingual.

As a result, the AFNQL requested that its budget be increased by $225,000 to reflect this reality and to ensure the professional translation of documents and an interpretation service during major meetings.

However, the budget fails to provide for this. Do you plan to resolve this issue, especially since Canadian Heritage recognizes the unique reality of the first nations of Quebec and Labrador and is calling for an adjustment to this funding formula?

[Rebecca Alty, Liberal, Northwest Territories, NT]

This key issue has come up in my discussions with the chiefs.

On that note, I must also work with my colleagues at Canadian Heritage. This isn't just about funding for meetings. This plays a significant role in all aspects of life.

The deputy minister can tell you a bit more about the funding.

[Valerie Gideon]

The regional chief approached me about this topic recently, when the minister had the opportunity to meet with the Assembly of First Nations' executive committee.

We've been working with the Assembly of First Nations for a number of years now to better understand its operating budget needs for each regional office. This issue concerns the Quebec regional office. However, it also concerns regional offices in the north, for example, which are seeking additional funding.

True, we don't have any sources of funding right now. That said, we've thoroughly assessed needs and we're working with the Assembly of First Nations on this matter.

[Sébastien Lemire, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

How and through what process does the Government of Canada plan to ensure that, for example, indigenous partners who may participate in major projects are truly indigenous?

We know that 60% of government contracts earmarked for first nations, Inuit and Métis people have been awarded to individuals or organizations located in Canada's national capital region. This region doesn't actually have any indigenous communities. Of course, we have Kitigan Zibi, but this community is over an hour away.

How will you ensure that funding earmarked for indigenous peoples will actually be allocated to recognized organizations, and not to pseudo‑indigenous people?

[Rebecca Alty, Liberal, Northwest Territories, NT]

Good question.

A verification process is in place to ensure that the indigenous groups meet the criteria outlined in section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982. Indigenous Services Canada also verifies all companies listed in the Canadian government directory to ensure that these companies are truly owned by a group or individual recognized by section 35 as indigenous.

If you would like more details on how we verify whether a group meets the criteria set out in section 35, I can ask the deputy minister to explain this to you.

[Sébastien Lemire, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

My time is up, but I encourage you to read the committee's report. It includes some good recommendations in this area.

Thank you, meegwetch.

[The Chair, Liberal, Terry Sheehan]

Thank you.

In the second round, we have Bob for five minutes.

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

Thank you, Ministers, for being here today.

I have questions for Minister Chartrand to begin with.

Life is tough in the north with food, fuel and housing costs at all-time highs. It's why projects running billions of dollars over budget tick off northerners. The Giant Mine remediation project started with a budget of $1 billion, a lot of money for most Canadians. Now it has quadrupled in cost to over $4.4 billion, of which $202.3 million went to consultants alone. Many demands by the Giant Mine Oversight Board have largely been ignored by your team.

A source from Yellowknife close to the project wants to know when you will be auditing the Giant Mine project for fraud. Minister, why should taxpayers foot a $4.4-billion bill for a project your government has lost control of and refuses to explain why?

[Rebecca Chartrand, Liberal, Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB]

Thank you, MP Zimmer, for that question.

As you know, there is independent oversight of the Giant Mine project. There's the Giant Mine remediation project team. There's also the independent Giant Mine Oversight Board. As you know, they publish annual reports. These reports summarize activities, performances and key observations from year to year.