Evidence of meeting #114 for Public Accounts in the 44th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was funding.
A video is available from Parliament.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Williamson
Okay. An invitation was sent out, but there's no response.
Ms. Shanahan, I'll go back to you if you want the floor. If not, I'll go to Mr. Desjarlais.
Liberal
Brenda Shanahan Liberal Châteauguay—Lacolle, QC
I'm just suggesting that if the minister indeed is appearing at INAN on this topic, any member can attend the INAN meeting, of course, and ask questions and so on.
We have a work plan. We're trying to follow it. We have, as you know, Chair, multiple reports at this time. I think we're up to nine or 10 draft reports that we haven't yet submitted.
This has been a very fruitful meeting. We're certainly going to want to get to the report and get that out as soon as possible, but I don't know if Mr. Desjarlais has spoken with anybody who is sitting....
Are you sitting on the INAN committee?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Williamson
Please respond. Then I do have to look for UC, but I would like to hear from you first.
NDP
Blake Desjarlais NDP Edmonton Griesbach, AB
The motion is specific to the Auditor General's report. This committee is seized with that report. I believe that out of the many audits we have, the Auditor General has been clear that this is of the most critical importance after 20 years of non-accountability, 20 years of underfunding, 20 years of not taking this seriously.
That's why I believe, Mr. Chair, that this motion is in line with our committee's mandate. Furthermore, it's the most moral, best and most important way we can address our oaths of office. Canadians are suffering. Indigenous people are suffering. This is an extreme instance of inequality. We need to do this.
It's not a question of where we should put this issue. The government should be seized with this issue across all committees, if anything.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Williamson
It's now over to Ms. Sinclair‑Desgagné. Please keep it brief.
Bloc
Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné Bloc Terrebonne, QC
I just want to reiterate everything Mr. Desjarlais said.
This is an important report, the latest in a series of scathing reports. Today I asked questions about what the minister thought of the report, but I'd like to hear it from her. She has the authority and the power to give specific direction, so I'd like to hear how she plans to respond to the Auditor General's report.
The vice-chair of the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs told us that the minister still hadn't agreed to appear before that committee. It's pertinent for her to appear before this committee, so we can move forward with our study.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Williamson
I do need to address the issue of the bells.
I want to thank the government members in particular for allowing a few voices to be heard. I think that shows your goodwill on this question.
I'm going to look for UC. We have votes coming up. I think everything's been said that needs to be said. I want the Liberals to hear this: I'm going to look for UC to call a vote on this. I need your attention, because I just want to make sure you understand that I'm looking for UC to call a vote on this motion.
Liberal
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Williamson
Yes. Otherwise, we could debate it. We have 20 minutes until the vote.
Liberal
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Williamson
Okay. I'll tell you what: Let me have UC, then, to continue to debate for 15 minutes, and then we can check in again. Would that be sufficient?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Williamson
That way you can speak. You can easily filibuster for 15 minutes if you don't want to have a vote.
Liberal
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Williamson
All right.
Witnesses, perhaps you can just bear with us, please.
I'm looking for UC to continue this debate for 15 minutes. I see no dissenters.
You have the floor, Mrs. Shanahan.
Liberal
Brenda Shanahan Liberal Châteauguay—Lacolle, QC
I'm still unclear on the situation at INAN.
We have the Auditor General with us. Can the Auditor General respond if she's been invited to the INAN committee on this report?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Williamson
We're now debating a motion, so we really cannot hear from witnesses unless members agree that we can hear from the AG.
Auditor General of Canada, Office of the Auditor General
I'm honoured. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
As I walked into the room, my parliamentary liaison people confirmed that I had just been invited to appear before INAN to discuss both policing and housing. I do not know a time or date. I don't know if it's for two separate times or only one, but yes, an invitation has been extended.
Conservative
Liberal
Brenda Shanahan Liberal Châteauguay—Lacolle, QC
That's new information.
In that case, if the minister has already been invited to INAN, then I would humbly suggest that that would be a very fruitful meeting at the INAN committee. It would be in much the same way as we invited INAN to look at the overriding issues—
Liberal
Brenda Shanahan Liberal Châteauguay—Lacolle, QC
—that the Auditor General brought up concerning, I think, Mr. Genuis' motion to look at the overarching issues that have been brought up in this report and others concerning indigenous services in this country.
Chair, I am more accustomed to working on a consensual basis through which we talk about what we need to do and work out our work plan and have a subcommittee, and it's discussed again in the group. I'm certainly not against—
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Williamson
I'm going to cut you off there. I have a point of order that I need to hear.