Debates of June 2nd, 2015

Aboriginal Affairs

[Megan Leslie, NDP, Halifax, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge that we are on an unceded Algonquin territory.

Today, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission on Canada's Indian residential schools issued its final report. The documentation is of a tragedy, a cultural policy of assimilation carried out by the Canadian government and institutions that stole children and childhoods, devastated communities and destroyed lives. Over 6,000 students died while in residential schools.

More than 150,000 aboriginal children were sent to residential schools, and the intergenerational traumas persist: poverty, health problems and addiction.

It is time for the government to be part of the solution.

As Commissioner Sinclair said, “Reconciliation is not an Aboriginal problem — it is a Canadian problem”.

This is a tragedy that spans generations. We must honour it through action. It is time for true reconciliation.

Pensions

[Dean Allison, Conservative, Niagara West—Glanbrook, ON]

Mr. Speaker, in Canada we have built a pension plan system that is world-class and is based on principles on which all Canadians can agree. Maximizing choice and cutting taxes for families and business owners alike rank high on that list.

We refuse to introduce a mandatory increase to Canadian pension plan premiums and we refuse to universally expand CPP contributions. We believe that Canadians are best placed to decide how to save for their retirement with voluntary options rather than have tax hikes imposed on them.

We will always side with hard-working business owners and middle-class Canadians. We will always side with giving Canadians a choice where there is one to be had. When the middle class of this great nation is concerned about the consequences of a high-tax agenda on the economy, that means we are as well.

The high-tax and high-debt plan of other parties in the House would mean approximately a $1,000 tax hike for every employee who earns $60,000 per year.

On this side of the House, we do not raise taxes on the middle class, we cut them.

Aboriginal Affairs

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge that we are on unceded Algonquin territory.

My colleague, the member of Parliament for Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, presented a bill to fully implement the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, a United Nations document that my colleague actually helped draft. The Prime Minister and all Conservatives voted against it.

In light of today's report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, is the Prime Minister willing to vote to implement the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples?

[Stephen Harper, Conservative, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I would point out that Canada is one of the very few countries in the world where aboriginal treaty rights are fully recognized in our Constitution. That is one of the reasons why the government accepted the UN declaration as an aspirational document.

We have taken specific actions to enhance the rights of aboriginal people, particularly women living on reserves and generally all aboriginal people, under the Canadian Human Rights Act. Sadly, the NDP and the opposition parties voted against it. I hope they will reconsider some of those positions.

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Leader of the Opposition]

“Aspirational”, Mr. Speaker.

Seven years ago, the Prime Minister officially apologized to Indian residential school survivors and first nations. He promised reconciliation.

To that end, will he acknowledge that aboriginal peoples are entitled to a nation-to-nation relationship with the Government of Canada, as our laws have stated for over 250 years?

[Stephen Harper, Conservative, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, our government signed the residential schools agreement and created the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.

Our government has implemented many initiatives to improve the lives of first nations in this country, and our government will keep working with aboriginal communities and individuals to improve the lives of aboriginal people.

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, intentions are not enough. An apology is only meaningful if it is accompanied by real action.

There were 150,000 children taken from their homes and from their parents in Canada. They were mistreated and horribly abused. As many as 6,000 of them died. That is 6,000 children dead in Canada.

Does the Prime Minister agree with Justice Sinclair and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that the residential school program was nothing short of cultural genocide?

[Stephen Harper, Conservative, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I addressed these issues some seven years ago in the House of Commons when I spoke about the devastation caused by a policy of Indian residential schools. This was a policy of forced assimilation that not only destroyed the lives of individuals but of entire families and societies, and it has had long-lasting implications on entire communities in our country.

That is why we have moved forward with the apology and why this government has taken multiple actions over the years to improve the lives of aboriginal Canadians. We continue to do so. These are concrete steps that are taken. The NDP members have voted against every single one of them. I would encourage them to start to do something positive on this.

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, a good way to move forward, a good concrete action, would be to recognize that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission is right, that this was an attempt at cultural genocide.

It affected 150,000 children. They were subjected to horrible and depraved physical and sexual abuse, and 6,000 of them died.

Residential schools left their mark on seven generations of aboriginal children, but to this day, aboriginal children receive 30% less than other Canadian children.

Would the Prime Minister accept such a thing for his own children?

[Stephen Harper, Conservative, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, our government has taken action on many fronts to improve the lives of aboriginal people.

I would just mention that in the most recent budget we put in place funding for training first nations people for available jobs, and new opportunities for economic development through the first nations land management regime. Vast amounts of money are being made available for further progress and reform on first nations education, including more post-secondary scholarships and opportunities. There are also some health investments, particularly in mental health, on reserves. These are concrete things.

I would encourage the NDP, rather than opposing them all, to actually support some of these initiatives.

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, all Canadian children deserve an equal opportunity in life.

The House voted unanimously to close the funding gap for first nations schools. Why will the Prime Minister and his government not fulfill that promise?

[Stephen Harper, Conservative, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, this government arrived at an historic agreement with the Assembly of First Nations to do just that, to make investments to modernize the education system so first nations children would have all the same opportunities, accountabilities and curriculum of other Canadians. The NDP fought that tooth and nail.

We will continue to move forward with investments and continue to move forward with willing partners, because it is important that first nations children have those opportunities.

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission asks for meaningful actions to address residential schools' legacy of cultural genocide and the ongoing impacts on first nations, on the Métis nation and on Inuit communities. Canada has not yet taken these actions, and so reconciliation remains elusive.

Will the Prime Minister match the sincere apology he made seven years ago with a commitment to real action, nation to nation, on reconciliation?

[Stephen Harper, Conservative, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, once again, it was this government that for the first time in Canadian history recognized the full extent of the damage done by residential schools, not just the destruction of communities and families, and the abuse but also the loss of life in many cases.

That is why we issued the historic apology. That is why we signed the settlement and moved forward with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and have moved forward with various initiatives in every single budget, every single year, on a series of things to improve the lives of aboriginal Canadians.

I encourage the Liberal Party to actually support some of those rather than just give us rhetoric.

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada has clearly said that we can no longer simply talk about reconciliation; the time has come to act. The commission has made 94 recommendations for beginning the process of reconciliation and rebuilding our relationship with first nations, Inuit, and Metis peoples.

The Liberal Party of Canada accepts these 94 recommendations and commits today to implementing them. Will the Prime Minister do the same?

[Stephen Harper, Conservative, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the government will begin by examining the report and the commission's recommendations before deciding what the next steps should be.

We have been following through on specific measures in this area for quite some time. In the most recent budget, we addressed employment, economic development, education and health. Every time, the Liberal Party votes against our specific initiatives to help aboriginal people. I encourage the Liberals to change tactics.

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the commission issued 94 recommendations to advance the process to close the quality of life gaps that exist, to revitalize indigenous languages and cultures, and to restore the original respectful relationship with first nations, Métis nation and Inuit peoples.

The Liberal Party, today, accepts and commits to implement these recommendations. Will the Prime Minister stand in this place and do the same?

[Stephen Harper, Conservative, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I am not sure there ever was an original relationship that, quite frankly, was as satisfactory as the hon. leader of the Liberal Party would like to say.

What I would say is that obviously the commission has spent a long time on this report, a commission established by this government. It has issued a large number of recommendations. We are still awaiting the full report. The government will examine all of these and, obviously, read them before deciding what the appropriate next steps are.

[Romeo Saganash, NDP, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC]

Mr. Speaker, today we heard a clear message from survivors and from the commission. Reconciliation is more than just words; it is also meaningful action. We need to start fresh, nation to nation, with a new approach.

It is in this spirit that I want to reach out to the members across the aisle and I ask the Prime Minister whether he will implement the principles set out in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

[Mark Strahl, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development]

Mr. Speaker, we thank the commission for its work. As was said, Canada is one of the only countries in the world where aboriginal and treaty rights are entrenched in the Constitution. We have endorsed the United Nations declaration as an aspirational document and as a significant step forward in strengthening relations with aboriginal peoples.

We will continue to take concrete measures to improve the living conditions of aboriginal peoples.

[Romeo Saganash, NDP, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC]

Mr. Speaker, National Chief Bellegarde was pretty clear on this. He said:

It’s hard to talk about reconciliation when you have 120 First Nations communities with boil water advisories.

We will not have reconciliation as long as first nations live in poverty and there are kids who do not have schools and safe drinking water.

For years the Liberal and Conservative governments have underfunded first nations, compared to other Canadians. Will the government right this injustice and close the funding gap?

[Mark Strahl, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development]

Mr. Speaker, our government remains committed to a fair and lasting resolution to the legacy of the Indian residential schools. As acknowledged in the Prime Minister's historic apology on behalf of all Canadians in 2008, there is no place in Canada for the attitudes that inspired the Indian residential school system to ever prevail again.

We continue to make significant investments in aboriginal education. Economic action plan 2015 committed substantial funding for education on reserve and built upon a $500-million investment announced by the Prime Minister. We will continue to work with first nations parents, teachers, and schools to improve the quality of education on reserve.

[Niki Ashton, NDP, Churchill, MB]

Mr. Speaker, today we heard the testaments of survivors who want the commission's final report to finally be a step towards reconciliation and towards healing. Concrete recommendations have been made, and one of them calls for a national inquiry into murdered and missing aboriginal women. However, the minister prefers to sit back and do nothing.

My question is therefore for the Prime Minister: will he show some leadership and call a national inquiry?

[Kellie Leitch, Conservative, Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women]

Mr. Speaker, these were terrible crimes against innocent people. The RCMP said in its own study that the vast majority of these cases are addressed and are solved through police investigations.

We do not need yet another study, as I have mentioned before, as some 40 studies have already been done. What we need is a place to catch those responsible and ensure that they are punished. What we need now is action, action like what our government has taken on matrimonial property rights, the creation of safety plans, or making sure that there are shelters available for women on reserves.

We are taking action. We encourage the opposition to follow our lead.

[Niki Ashton, NDP, Churchill, MB]

Mr. Speaker, reconciliation, as we heard today, includes an national inquiry into missing and murdered women.

Let us move to housing. One third of first nations in Manitoba live in inadequate housing conditions. I have seen them first hand in our north: families in overcrowded houses, houses in deep need of repair, homes infected with black mould.

As national Chief Bellegarde said, how can we expect reconciliation when people live in these conditions? Will the government finally listen to first nations and act on addressing the deplorable housing conditions in first nations in the spirit of reconciliation?