Evidence of meeting #37 for Indigenous and Northern Affairs in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was work.
A video is available from Parliament.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Terry Sheehan
Can we have one person speaking at a time? Do you remember what I said about the—now I'm doing it.
We'll have one person speaking at a time because it's tough on those interpreters right there. I can see them nodding their heads and agreeing with me, so please....
Liberal
Mandy Gull-Masty Liberal Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC
Thank you.
What have they endured historically? Trauma, lack of access to service, discrimination—
Liberal
Mandy Gull-Masty Liberal Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC
—all of these things impact mental wellness. We, as a government, have announced and introduced funding of services, not only to address mental wellness but to support mental wellness services inside and outside of community—
Conservative
Jamie Schmale Conservative Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes, ON
That's fantastic, but your numbers are not getting better.
Liberal
Mandy Gull-Masty Liberal Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC
—including traditional engagement to ensure that people are able to—
Conservative
Conservative
Jamie Schmale Conservative Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes, ON
I'm going to move on, because clearly, your numbers aren't getting better, and you won't answer the question.
Let's go to graduation rates on reserve. For secondary schools, in 2017, it was 41%. In 2018 it was 40.5%. In 2019 it was 39.9%. In 2022 it was 26%. In 2023 it was 30%. In 2024 and 2025 it was 30%. Your numbers keep going down, and you did say, in your own words, that you have one of the biggest budgets in this government. How are you not getting better results?
Liberal
Mandy Gull-Masty Liberal Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC
This year, we made significant additional investments in education. At Indigenous Services Canada, we are responsible for K to 12 and community service delivery. We also do post-secondary.... We also support all the areas that are wraparound services in education. That includes spaces like Jordan's principle, supporting children in care and supporting children who are trying to pursue additional areas of study.
One of the biggest targets I've seen achieved at Indigenous Services Canada is the 10% increase in graduation rates across the country in the past 10 years—an area that was historically underfunded and capped. It did not provide the results, the necessary infrastructure, the support services, the teaching staff or the additional infrastructure that's required to support those teaching staff who come into—
Conservative
Jamie Schmale Conservative Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes, ON
Thank you, Minister.
Your own departmental report is showing your numbers. You're saying you get an injection of money, but your numbers go down.
Liberal
Mandy Gull-Masty Liberal Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC
I just want to ensure that you have the full portrait.
Conservative
Bob Zimmer Conservative Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC
It's his time; it's not her time.
Conservative
Jamie Schmale Conservative Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes, ON
This isn't her speech. This is my time and not hers, Mr. Chair.
Conservative
Jamie Schmale Conservative Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes, ON
I let her go on. She wasn't answering the question.
Conservative
Jamie Schmale Conservative Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes, ON
You're talking about all this money. That's fantastic. Your results keep going down. Intimate partner violence on your website in 2023 was at 7.5%. It's up to 16.9%. Do you know what your department's target is for this year? It's 16%. Is that acceptable?
Liberal
Mandy Gull-Masty Liberal Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC
Is there a level of violence that's acceptable? Is that your question?
Conservative
Jamie Schmale Conservative Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes, ON
No. Why isn't it zero, and why is your department okay with 16% for intimate partner violence?
Liberal
Mandy Gull-Masty Liberal Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC
Are you really asking me whether zero is the marker?
Conservative
Jamie Schmale Conservative Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes, ON
Why isn't the number zero the target for intimate partner violence? Why is it okay for your department to say that 16% is an okay number?
Liberal
Mandy Gull-Masty Liberal Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC
Is zero the marker for other Canadians?
Conservative