Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee on June 11th, 2026

[The Chair, Liberal, Terry Sheehan]

I call this meeting to order.

Welcome to meeting number 37 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs. We recognize that we meet on the unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinabe people.

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee is studying the subject matter of supplementary estimates (A), 2026-27.

Today's meeting is taking place in a hybrid format. Members may be attending in person in the room and remotely by using the Zoom application. For those participating by video conference, click on the microphone icon to activate your mic, and please mute yourself when you are not speaking. For those on Zoom, at the bottom of your screen, you can select the appropriate channel—I think we have some pros online, but I'm going through this, anyway—floor, English or French. As a reminder, all comments should be addressed through the chair—that goes for everyone, please.

Please be mindful of the interpreters. When you're not speaking, make sure your mic doesn't have the red light on. Usually, the tech happens, but sometimes people double-click or whatever, and that provides feedback. Make sure that only one person speaks at a time. If two or three people turn on their mics and try to speak, it pops in their ears too. This is about the health and safety of our wonderful interpreters behind the window.

Good morning, and thank you for being here.

Before we proceed to the witnesses, a budget for this study in the amount of $500 has been distributed. Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt it?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Terry Sheehan]

I would like to welcome our witnesses.

First, we have the Honourable Mandy Gull-Masty, Minister of Indigenous Services.

Welcome, Minister. We're glad to see you.

From the Department of Indigenous Services, we have Julien Castonguay, assistant deputy minister, Jordan's principle and Inuit child first initiative; Jennifer Wheatley, assistant deputy minister, regional delivery sector; Richard Goodyear, senior assistant deputy minister and chief financial officer; and Nelson Barbosa, director general, community infrastructure branch.

Minister, you have five minutes, please.

[Mandy Gull-Masty, Liberal, Minister of Indigenous Services]

Wachiya. Kwe kwe. Ullukkut. Tansi. Bonjour.

[Witness spoke in Cree]

[English]

Let us be thankful that we see another beautiful day today.

I'm pleased to be back here, before the committee, to speak about the priorities of my department and how they're supported by the 2026-27 supplementary estimates. These estimates advance critical priorities for indigenous people, with $899 million in additional funding for mental wellness, child and family services, indigenous governance and capacity, nursing services and many other key investments.

My department is committed to working in partnership with the first nations, Inuit and Métis communities to improve access to quality services. This work is based on their partnership, guided by the right to self‑determination and led by the communities themselves, as they build their own future.

Over the past few months, we've announced renewed funding for key sectors so that proven programs—

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

There's no interpretation.

[Billy Morin, Conservative, Edmonton Northwest, AB]

There is no interpretation.

[The Chair, Liberal, Terry Sheehan]

I'm going to pause temporarily while we check the interpretation.

Should we go from the top, or would you like to continue from where you were?

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

I'll continue from the first paragraph.

[The Chair, Liberal, Terry Sheehan]

Thank you.

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

Over the past few months, we've announced renewed funding for key sectors so that proven programs can continue to deliver results.

In February, I confirmed an investment of $1.55 billion to support requests, through Jordan's principle, from April 2026 to March 31, 2027. This includes $775 million in new funding. I also announced $115 million to extend the Inuit child first initiative through March 31, 2027. These investments provide immediate stability for families and allow communities to continue delivering essential supports for children, without interruption.

As the wildfire season begins, our government understands that supporting communities on the front lines of natural disasters and extreme weather events is a critical priority. This is why Indigenous Services Canada is allocating an additional $55.6 million to the emergency management assistance program in 2026-27. This funding is going to support community capacity, preparedness and mitigation, and that includes initiatives like FireSmart and emergency management coordination. We know that, during wildfires, flooding and other events, there can be devastating impacts on communities, and this is why we continue our support in this space.

We've also renewed $283 million over two years, starting in 2026-27, to support indigenous governance and capacity programs. This investment supports first nations governments with the resources to build governance structures, plan for the future and strengthen their communities.

I would now like to take a moment to discuss the priorities for the coming year.

One of my top priorities is really to support indigenous children and youth. I've heard the service needs expressed by families across the country. I've really understood that we need to work together to ensure that children can grow up safely, receive support and maintain strong ties with their culture.

In addition to the investments already mentioned in Jordan's principle and the Inuit child first initiative, I've also proposed a new path forward for long-term reform of the first nations child and family services program. The Government of Canada is committing $35.5 billion starting in 2027, for seven years, and an additional $4.4 billion annually after that to advance first nations-led approaches.

This funding will support first nations in exercising their right to care for their own children. It will do so by strengthening prevention-focused services, supporting families and enabling communities to design and deliver programs that are rooted in their own law, cultures, priorities and languages.

The coming into force of the Ontario final agreement at the end of last month has been something that is truly transformative. It is change in a space that is critical. I'd like to thank Regional Chief Benedict and Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler for their hard work and collaboration, as well as the many members and participants who were with us on the historic day as we welcomed this working relationship through ceremony.

One of my other top priorities is based on water. Access to clean and safe drinking water is essential for health and dignity.

In budget 2025, we've continued to build on progress, committing $2.3 billion over three years, starting in 2026-27, to renew the first nations water and waste-water enhancement program.

These investments will support over 800 projects, help communities modernize their systems and train more water system operators. The investments will help build local capacity and prevent the need to issue new drinking water advisories.

Our shared goal remains unchanged, which is ending long-term water advisories. We've also made real progress in this space, lifting 156 long-term drinking water advisories since 2015. There is more work to do in this space.

Most recently, on May 27, Okanese First Nation lifted its drinking water advisory. I'd like to congratulate Chief Stonechild on this important step forward for his community.

However, as I mentioned, we know that every community needs to ensure that they have lasting access to safe drinking water. Passing the first nations clean drinking water legislation is a crucial step in achieving this. Our goal for our government is a commitment to introducing water legislation before the end of spring. This is a commitment that I intend to keep.

I will have more information to share with the committee members about this very soon.

A key factor in all this work is the importance of the partnership. As minister, I've built relationships with communities across the country. I'm encouraged by our joint progress in finding solutions that respect indigenous people's contributions and leadership and that enable communities to shape their own future.

Projects are being carried out. However, we know that they aren't enough on their own. We need to make real and lasting changes. This means continuing to listen, fulfilling our commitments and improving Indigenous Services Canada's way of working in partnership with communities on a daily basis.

Meegwetch, tshinashkumitinau, qujannamiik, marsi, merci, thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Terry Sheehan]

Chi-meegwetch.

Now we go to the six-minute round. First up for the Conservatives is MP Morin, please.

[Billy Morin, Conservative, Edmonton Northwest, AB]

Thank you, Chair.

Good morning, Minister. Miyo-kîkisêpâyâw.

I have an easy one. You mentioned water as a priority. You mentioned before the spring. The government has missed deadlines of its stated goal of the fall before the end of the year. The Prime Minister promised the spring. It's now the summer. I guess I'll give you a technicality in terms of this session being the spring session or whatever we brand it.

An easy one is, will you commit to getting the water legislation tabled before next Friday—before the House rises for the summer?

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

Thank you.

Good morning. It's nice to see you, MP Morin. It's a pleasure to come here and a pleasure to speak to this.

As I said in my opening statement, this is a commitment. We heard the Prime Minister himself make this commitment at the Assembly of First Nations, and—

[Billy Morin, Conservative, Edmonton Northwest, AB]

I'm sorry, Minister. We only have so much time. Is it a yes or no before next Friday?

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

I am responding to the question. The Prime Minister made the commitment. I intend to uphold that commitment. The last time I checked, spring ends at the summer solstice. That hasn't arrived yet. We're still in spring.

[Billy Morin, Conservative, Edmonton Northwest, AB]

Before next Friday, are you going to introduce the legislation, yes or no?

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

I just answered the question.

[Billy Morin, Conservative, Edmonton Northwest, AB]

Is that a yes or no?

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

Next Friday is summer. We are still in spring. Have we introduced it in spring? This is what we intend to do. This is the commitment that was made.

[Billy Morin, Conservative, Edmonton Northwest, AB]

Okay. Thanks for the non-answer there, or the vague answer.

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

Well, I did answer. You asked—

[Billy Morin, Conservative, Edmonton Northwest, AB]

The next question I have, Minister—

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

—if I was going to introduce it before summer, and that's what I intend to do.

[Billy Morin, Conservative, Edmonton Northwest, AB]

I do have another question, Chair.

The estimates include the operations of your department. Going through your department and its departmental plan, it's a $25-billion budget, and the first thing you cited was health of children and health of families.

The first thing in your departmental plan is “Percentage of First Nations adults living on reserve who reported being in ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’ health”. For the last three or four fiscal years, it's been 37.8%, 37.8% and 37.8% in your actual results. Then it has an asterisk next to it that indicates that even though it says the last three or four fiscal years, these are actually from 2015, and your target is 44%.

How can you justify a departmental plan for $25 billion on the health of families and children that just copies and pastes results for a goal?

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

Thank you for the question.

I'm very proud to be a minister who operates the second-largest budget in government, and there is a significant commitment in the health space. One of the targets that I've come to understand in working in this space is ensuring that we meet communities in the space that they're in. Looking to modernize and to improve has always been what I have presented as a minister; ensuring that we respond with in-community health care, virtual health care or any services that are online is the next—