Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee on Dec. 10th, 2025

[Mandy Gull-Masty, Liberal, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC]

—it is my goal and objective, as minister, to—

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

But do you agree?

[Mandy Gull-Masty, Liberal, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC]

—ensure that if those recommendations are implemented, they also align with what communities want to see in their community.

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

I get all that. Absolutely. At the same time, yes or no, do you agree with the AG's recommendations?

[Mandy Gull-Masty, Liberal, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC]

Did you not understand my response?

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

I did. I just would like a—

[Mandy Gull-Masty, Liberal, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC]

My response was that I have received—

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

You said you accept them.

[Mandy Gull-Masty, Liberal, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC]

I have received the Auditor General's recommendations—

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

You received them. That's not a yes or a no. Do you agree with them?

[Mandy Gull-Masty, Liberal, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC]

It's not a yes-or-no question.

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

Yes, I'm pretty sure it is.

[Mandy Gull-Masty, Liberal, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC]

It is not.

[The Chair, Liberal, Terry Sheehan]

Let's not do the back-and-forth. Let's just let the minister answer and keep on with the questions.

Go ahead, Minister.

[Mandy Gull-Masty, Liberal, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC]

While I want to respect the work of the Auditor General, I also want to acknowledge that looking through a lens of compliance with outcomes is one aspect of the work we do at Indigenous Services Canada. While I think the recommendations she is putting forward are made with the best intent for a successful outcome, I also have to reflect that they are not recommendations that would align with the reality of all first nations communities in the same way.

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

Okay. Let's go with that.

[Mandy Gull-Masty, Liberal, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC]

Additional work has to be undertaken and adjusted to reflect that reality.

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

Are the majority of the first nations you're speaking with—

[Mandy Gull-Masty, Liberal, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC]

I want to clarify with you that it is important for us at Indigenous Services—

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

Do they want more programs? Is that what they're asking for—more programs—or are they asking for direct funding?

[Mandy Gull-Masty, Liberal, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC]

It is important for us at Indigenous Services Canada to work with—

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

In an agency whose mandate is to shut itself down—

[Mandy Gull-Masty, Liberal, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC]

There are some that also have direct funding—

[The Chair, Liberal, Terry Sheehan]

Hold on. Pause. This is really tough on the interpreters.

Thank you.

Please go ahead, Minister. I've added a couple more seconds.

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

I know that the minister's job is to eat my time up. I totally understand that, but I'm not going to allow her to do that.