House of Commons Hansard #249 of the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was anaphylaxis.

Topics

Second ReadingSafe Drinking Water for First Nations ActGovernment Orders

5:35 p.m.

Conservative

Kelly Block Conservative Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK

Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned in my remarks, most first nations communities do not have regulations in place that safeguard water quality at all. As we have heard, access to clean, safe and reliable drinking water is an important determinant of health and a driver of socio-economic development.

Bill S-8, safe drinking water for first nations act, will enable the government with first nations to develop the regulations that the member is referring to, to provide that access to safe, clean and reliable drinking water to men, women and children living on first nations lands. As I stated in my remarks earlier, the goal of this legislation is to ensure that all Canadians, regardless of where they live, can access safe drinking water.

Second ReadingSafe Drinking Water for First Nations ActGovernment Orders

5:35 p.m.

NDP

Robert Chisholm NDP Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS

Mr. Speaker, this legislation puts responsibility on the government for providing safe, clean drinking water to first nations communities, but it does not ensure that the funding will be available. When I asked the hon. member's colleague this same question, I got in response a list of all of the funding that has gone in this direction in the past seven years. The problem is, it has not done the job, and the question still remains.

I ask the member, is she not as concerned as I am that with the legislation there needs to be the adequate resources directed?

Second ReadingSafe Drinking Water for First Nations ActGovernment Orders

5:35 p.m.

Conservative

Kelly Block Conservative Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK

Mr. Speaker, I believe my colleague answered the question that since forming government, we have invested almost $3 billion in water and waste water infrastructure.

If that member was as concerned as he says he is, he would have supported the $192.7 million that was included in last year's budget.

Second ReadingSafe Drinking Water for First Nations ActGovernment Orders

5:40 p.m.

Conservative

Roxanne James Conservative Scarborough Centre, ON

Mr. Speaker, I absolutely agree with the member. It is simple. First nations should have access to safe drinking water and those types of measures, the same things that every other Canadian enjoys in Canada, including every member in this House. My understanding is that this legislation before us today has been seven years in the making. There has been continuous dialogue between the Government of Canada and first nations. Some of the concerns first nations brought to the table have been incorporated into Bill S-8.

The member mentioned consultations with first nations. Could she elaborate and provide this House with more information regarding those consultations between first nations and the government, and also, after seven years, why it is so important to move this legislation forward?

Second ReadingSafe Drinking Water for First Nations ActGovernment Orders

5:40 p.m.

Conservative

Kelly Block Conservative Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK

Mr. Speaker, the member makes an important point: engagement has been ongoing for seven years. The Government of Canada has been involved in extensive engagement since 2006, and we continue to engage with first nations on this proposed legislation and regulatory development.

I would like to highlight the following. In the summer of 2006, an expert panel held public hearings across Canada, at which time they heard from over 110 presenters, and received more than two dozen submissions.

In February and March of 2009, a series of engagement sessions were held with first nations communities, regional first nations organizations, and provincial and territorial officials. There were 700 participants, of whom 544 were first nations.

In the fall and winter of 2009 to 2010, government officials met with first nations chiefs and organizations to discuss specific regional issues raised during the engagement session, and from October 2010 to October 2011, without prejudice discussions with first nations—

Second ReadingSafe Drinking Water for First Nations ActGovernment Orders

5:40 p.m.

Conservative

The Acting Speaker Conservative Bruce Stanton

Order. Unfortunately, we have reached the end of the period permitted for questions and comments.

Resuming debate.

The hon. member for Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel has three minutes to speak.

Second ReadingSafe Drinking Water for First Nations ActGovernment Orders

5:40 p.m.

NDP

Mylène Freeman NDP Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC

Mr. Speaker, it is very important for me to speak to Bill S-8, An Act respecting the safety of drinking water on First Nation lands.

We too often disregard the importance of water in Canada. We have more than two million lakes and the largest supply of fresh water in the world, so we often take water for granted. Even though this resource is essential to life, the environment and our economy, water is not immune to contamination.

Protecting the quality of our water is extremely important to everyone, whether we live in an urban or rural area, or on a reserve.

Unfortunately, it is clear to me that the Conservatives do not care much about protecting our water.

My Motion No. 400 was designed to restore balance between urban and rural areas. This motion, which received unanimous support on the opposition side, aimed to develop a reasoned and comprehensive solution to a problem that affects water quality and public safety.

However, the government has decided not to take action. It claimed that the provinces were responsible for regulating septic tanks, thus shirking any responsibility. If the government had had the political will to take action, we could have worked with the provinces, as stated in the motion, and respected their jurisdictions.

Today, we can see that the government's reaction to my motion was ill-advised and narrow-minded. The same could be said for Bill S-8.

I do not think that the solution offered in Bill S-8 is reasoned or comprehensive. There are many problems with this bill: it does not respect first nations' ancestral rights, it does not include the necessary investment, there was no consultation, and the bill is not compatible with provincial laws.

I will talk about these issues more another time, since they are recurrent problems with this government's aboriginal affairs legislation, especially when it comes to violating rights and failing to consult.

Mr. Speaker, before concluding today I want to say that I have heard the comments made today by members in the House that we do not have to consult when we put forward legislation. However, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People states that we do need free, prior and informed consent when we are talking about first nations legislation. This is something that the government has failed to do again and again. It is not a choice that we have. It is about rights and something that the international community is begging us to do.

I am looking forward to speaking more about this next time.

Second ReadingSafe Drinking Water for First Nations ActGovernment Orders

5:45 p.m.

NDP

The Deputy Speaker NDP Joe Comartin

It being 5:45 p.m., pursuant to an order made earlier today, it is my duty to interrupt the proceedings and put forthwith every question necessary to dispose of the second reading stage of the bill now before the House.

The question is on the motion that the question be now put. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

Second ReadingSafe Drinking Water for First Nations ActGovernment Orders

5:45 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

No.

Second ReadingSafe Drinking Water for First Nations ActGovernment Orders

5:45 p.m.

Conservative

The Acting Speaker Conservative Bruce Stanton

All those in favour of the motion will please say yea.

Second ReadingSafe Drinking Water for First Nations ActGovernment Orders

5:45 p.m.

Some hon. members

Yea.

Second ReadingSafe Drinking Water for First Nations ActGovernment Orders

5:45 p.m.

Conservative

The Acting Speaker Conservative Bruce Stanton

All those opposed will please say nay.

Second ReadingSafe Drinking Water for First Nations ActGovernment Orders

5:45 p.m.

Some hon. members

Nay.

Second ReadingSafe Drinking Water for First Nations ActGovernment Orders

5:45 p.m.

Conservative

The Acting Speaker Conservative Bruce Stanton

In my opinion the yeas have it.

Second ReadingSafe Drinking Water for First Nations ActGovernment Orders

5:45 p.m.

NDP

The Deputy Speaker NDP Joe Comartin

And five or more members having risen:

Second ReadingSafe Drinking Water for First Nations ActGovernment Orders

5:45 p.m.

Conservative

The Acting Speaker Conservative Bruce Stanton

Call in the members.

(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)

Vote #678

Safe Drinking Water for First Nations ActGovernment Orders

6:25 p.m.

Conservative

The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer

I declare the motion carried.

The next question is on the main motion. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

Safe Drinking Water for First Nations ActGovernment Orders

6:25 p.m.

Conservative

Gordon O'Connor Conservative Carleton—Mississippi Mills, ON

Mr. Speaker, if you seek it, I believe you would find agreement to apply the results from the previous motion to the current motion, with the Conservatives voting yes.

Safe Drinking Water for First Nations ActGovernment Orders

6:25 p.m.

Conservative

The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer

Is there unanimous consent to proceed in this fashion?

Safe Drinking Water for First Nations ActGovernment Orders

6:25 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

Safe Drinking Water for First Nations ActGovernment Orders

6:25 p.m.

NDP

Nycole Turmel NDP Hull—Aylmer, QC

Mr. Speaker, we agree to proceed in this way, and we will vote against the motion.

Safe Drinking Water for First Nations ActGovernment Orders

6:25 p.m.

Liberal

Judy Foote Liberal Random—Burin—St. George's, NL

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals agree to apply and will vote no.

Safe Drinking Water for First Nations ActGovernment Orders

6:25 p.m.

Bloc

Louis Plamondon Bloc Bas-Richelieu—Nicolet—Bécancour, QC

Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Québécois supports this bill.

Safe Drinking Water for First Nations ActGovernment Orders

6:25 p.m.

Independent

Bruce Hyer Independent Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON

Mr. Speaker, Thunder Bay—Superior North agrees to apply and will vote no.