Will you update the formula?
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.
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.
4:10 p.m.
Acting President and Chief Executive Officer, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
We did mention in the report that we are working with our partners to update the formula, yes.
4:10 p.m.
NDP
Blake Desjarlais NDP Edmonton Griesbach, AB
Thank you.
That was an incredibly simple question, and I can't believe I had to ask that question.
In relation to the Indigenous Service devolution process, does ISC recognize that the devolution process itself can in fact be harmful?
Should there not be an agency, whether it's the first nation or the department, that's able to actually monitor the material loss or material gain to the communities during devolvement?
4:15 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Indigenous Services
That's an institution I'd be more than willing to hear more about. I'm not aware of the particular agency that—
4:15 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Indigenous Services
You're talking about ISC devolving and transferring.
4:15 p.m.
NDP
Blake Desjarlais NDP Edmonton Griesbach, AB
Yes, and there's a loss of material wealth during that process. How do you explain that?
4:15 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Indigenous Services
You are saying, “loss of material wealth”. I'm sorry, but I don't understand the question.
4:15 p.m.
NDP
Blake Desjarlais NDP Edmonton Griesbach, AB
They're losing money, because they've been asked to sign agreements that look at devolution. They have lost the opportunity to have ISC, formerly INAC, continue to monitor their lost houses.
Do you know what I'm saying? There's a gap there, and that's why the gap is growing. It's because of devolvement.
4:15 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Indigenous Services
I get your question now, but I think we'll need more time to respond to it.
4:15 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Williamson
Go ahead. I have a practice at this committee that if members get their questions in before the time allotment, I do tend to allow witnesses to answer within reason, obviously. I try not to cut members off.
4:15 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Indigenous Services
We have some good examples of where we can do that. I will ask Nelson to respond.
4:15 p.m.
Director General, Regional Operations, Department of Indigenous Services
In terms of transfers, we don't call it devolution; we call it a transfer. In Indigenous Services Canada, it's baked into the mandate of the department as part of the legislation.
Currently, we have 13 active tables around transfers. These are tables that are dictated and mandated by rights holders themselves. That process begins with assessing the gap, much like the work that we did with the AFN in determining what the gap was in the report you cited earlier.
The example that we often refer to, and one that we've talked about at this committee before, is the Atlantic First Nations Water Authority. That was a partnership to understand the water needs of Atlantic first nations, the regulatory gap and the funding needed. There was direct funding support to the Atlantic First Nations Water Authority to the tune of $173 million in recognition of that work.
I wouldn't say that a transfer is about a way of exacerbating the gap. To your point, I think it's about—
4:15 p.m.
NDP
Blake Desjarlais NDP Edmonton Griesbach, AB
Cherry-picking some of these examples is not appropriate.
4:15 p.m.
Conservative
4:15 p.m.
NDP
Blake Desjarlais NDP Edmonton Griesbach, AB
No. I understand the rule, Chair, but I just can't accept that.
4:15 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Williamson
If you ask a question after the allotted time, I tend to end things, but I suspect this line will be picked up by other members here, so I'm going to end it there.
I will begin our second round.
Mr. Viersen, you have the floor for five minutes, please.
April 11th, 2024 / 4:15 p.m.
Conservative
Arnold Viersen Conservative Peace River—Westlock, AB
Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I want to thank the witnesses for being here.
Minister Hajdu likes to blame previous governments for a lot of the failures, but two years ago, in 2022, she said:
Unfortunately, successive governments have not prioritized housing for indigenous peoples. As a result, indigenous peoples are more likely to live in overcrowded homes and experience higher rates of all kinds of challenges, including mould and other poor housing conditions.
That was just about exactly two years ago.
In the Auditor General's report, we heard that the mould strategy seems to be completely forgotten, completely abandoned. However, the minister seemed to know about it at least two years ago.
Could ISC explain why there's no action happening on the mould front, and why they don't seem to be worried about it?
4:15 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Indigenous Services
There is action on mould, and there was a mould strategy. It was replaced by the current programming, which does allow for mould remediation. Mould remediation is under way, and Dr. Wong can talk about some of the efforts there.
We've seen that it was preferable, in the spirit of self-determination, to direct the funding for mould directly to communities so that they could decide their own priorities.
4:15 p.m.
Conservative
Arnold Viersen Conservative Peace River—Westlock, AB
Was it ever communicated to the public that the mould strategy was being abandoned in lieu of something else?
4:15 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Indigenous Services
It wasn't formally communicated to the public. It was worked through with first nations.