Debates of May 9th, 2013

Indian Affairs and Northern Development—Main Estimates, 2013–14

[Bernard Valcourt, Conservative, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Mr. Chair, the duty to consult is the solemn duty of the Crown, which we are respecting throughout. The duty to consult is an important part of the reconciliation that is called for by the Supreme Court of Canada in so many decisions. We take this obligation seriously and we discharge that obligation in respect of the honour of the Crown.

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, St. Paul's, ON]

Mr. Chair, I ask the minister how he can say he is taking it seriously and then talk about the billions of dollars in potential new investment in Canada's resource sector, while preparing to slash the support for first nations to effectively participate in these constitutionally required consultations?

[Bernard Valcourt, Conservative, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Mr. Chair, the government is taking concrete steps to ensure that government funding for our organizations is directed at the delivery of essential programs and services for aboriginal people. We recognize, of course, the important contribution that aboriginal representative organizations make on behalf of their members and that is why we continue to provide them with the core funding that enables them to continue dispensing these essential services to first nations all across Canada.

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, St. Paul's, ON]

Mr. Chair, I remind the minister that he has slashed the dollars for consultation by 60%, which exactly flies in the face of everything to do with a respectful partnership on these resources.

Does the federal government have a legal obligation to support post-secondary education for first nations and Inuit students?

[Bernard Valcourt, Conservative, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Mr. Chair, the concern of our government for post-secondary education should be evident from the last budget that was tabled in the House. Again this year, we have renewed our commitment to post-secondary education by designating new resources, important resources, to post-secondary education so that first nations and aboriginal youth, all across Canada, Metis, Inuit and first nations members, can access post-secondary education throughout Canada.

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, St. Paul's, ON]

Mr. Chair, in view of the huge wait list, I would take the minister's answer to the legal obligation to get these kids to post-secondary as a no.

What is the total number of students attending first nations schools, normally residing on reserve?

[Bernard Valcourt, Conservative, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Mr. Chair, students attending these schools is about 116,500 or 117,000. We invest $1.3 billion for the education of those aboriginal youth.

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, St. Paul's, ON]

Mr. Chair, what is the number of students living on reserves who have to go off reserve and attend provincial or territorial schools?

[Bernard Valcourt, Conservative, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Mr. Chair, there are certain students who attend the schools on reserve who are funded federally. Others attend private schools on reserve. Others attend schools that are in the provincial system. Our concern on the education of children is witnessed by our determination to bring about the legislative framework to a national school education act that would ensure we would have better graduation rates so aboriginal youth could enter the labour market much more efficiently for their own benefit.

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, St. Paul's, ON]

Mr. Chair, what is the amount that bands are having to pay to send their children off reserve to school?

[Bernard Valcourt, Conservative, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Mr. Chair, I can give the summary of the total. It is $393,763,463.20.

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, St. Paul's, ON]

Mr. Chair, what is the department's goal this year for the number of first nations and Inuit students graduating with a post-secondary certificate?

[Bernard Valcourt, Conservative, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Mr. Chair, the concern we have for the education of aboriginal students all across Canada should be echoed by that side of the House. Those members should support and participate in the consultation and the important work that is taking place right now to try to adopt a national education act which would ensure that we improve the graduation rates, so we equip aboriginal youth all across Canada with the tools they need to enter the labour market and contribute to their own community, region, province and country.

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, St. Paul's, ON]

Mr. Chair, my question was about the department's goal and the answer, which the minister does not seem to understand. The department does not have a goal listed in the reports on plans and priorities of how many first nations and Inuit students will finish post-secondary education this year.

How many communities were under boil water advisories as of today and is this level higher or lower than it was in 2006?

[Bernard Valcourt, Conservative, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Mr. Chair, we have adopted a comprehensive plan for water and waste water on reserve. From 2006 to 2014, we will have invested $3 billion to improve these infrastructures. Anyone who cares to visit the first nations across the country will see that enormous progress has been achieved.

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, St. Paul's, ON]

Mr. Chair, I would let the minister know that the progress he has achieved is that the boil water advisories are 20% higher now than they were in 2006. The department's own assessment in 2011 was a $1.2 billion shortfall in order to meet the water and waste water needs. How much of this need has he funded since that report came out in July 2011?

[Bernard Valcourt, Conservative, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Mr. Chair, in 2011-12, our government supported 402 major and minor first nations water and waste water infrastructure projects and 286 were planned for 2012-13.

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, St. Paul's, ON]

Mr. Chair, it is quite clear that the need is not being met. The boil water advisories are up 20%.

I would like to move to the issue housing. What happened to the $295 million of additional funding that was allocated in 2005 for on-reserve housing to build even more than the 13,800 units that should have been built every year if the government had stayed at 2005 funding levels?

[Bernard Valcourt, Conservative, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Mr. Chair, between 2006-07 and 2012-13, the department provided approximately $1.2 billion in on-reserve housing support to first nations communities. According to first nations reports, the Government of Canada's investments have contributed to an average of 1,750 new units and 3,100 renovations annually over the past five years.

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, St. Paul's, ON]

Mr. Chair, could the minister tell us if the department has done a calculation of how long it would take to fill the on-reserve housing gap, identified in the departmental 2011 evaluation, at the current funding levels?

[Bernard Valcourt, Conservative, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Mr. Chair, the provision and management of housing on reserve lands, as I said earlier, is primarily the responsibility of first nations, with support from the Government of Canada. In addition to government funding, first nations are expected to identify funding from other sources for their housing needs.

We are working co-operatively with all first nations to address those housing challenges that first nations face. We are cognizant of the fact that access to safe, sustainable and affordable housing is essential for improving economic and social outcomes, hence the important investments we are making.

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, St. Paul's, ON]

Mr. Chair, I will ask the minister again. At these funding levels, when does he believe that the housing gap identified in the 2011 report will be met?

[Bernard Valcourt, Conservative, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Mr. Chair, this is an issue I discussed with several first nations, with chiefs and councils, across the country. We continue to work together to find ways to improve the housing situation of first nations all across Canada. I am confident that by working together and looking at options and innovations, we can achieve much better results in the future.

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, St. Paul's, ON]

Mr. Chair, in September, the government announced a new results-based approach to self-government negotiations. How many specific land claims does the government anticipate settling this year?

[Bernard Valcourt, Conservative, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Mr. Chair, I have a lot of powers, but I have no crystal ball. All I know is that we are devoting important resources throughout the country, especially in western Canada and in British Columbia, to reach agreements with first nations. The new approach, which my predecessor announced in September, has as an objective to conclude, as rapidly as we can, more such agreements.