House of Commons Hansard #3 of the 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was chair.
Carolyn Bennett Liberal Toronto—St. Paul's, ON
Madam Chair, as we look toward going forward, in order to stay out of court, we have an obligation with section 35 consultations to ensure that neighbours and other governments are comfortable, and I think we are back on track. I think there will be good news shortly.
Jamie Schmale Conservative Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON
Madam Chair, this is a process that has been going on for 18 years. Why were these concerns not addressed beforehand?
Carolyn Bennett Liberal Toronto—St. Paul's, ON
Madam Chair, the member needs to understand that until there is a conversation to get to a temporary agreement, then we consult on what that agreement has been with the neighbours and the section 35 rights holders as well as the other jurisdictions.
Jamie Schmale Conservative Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON
Madam Chair, will the minister consider working with indigenous nations such as the Sts’ailes and the Sto:lo people and construct the regional health centre in Harrison Mills, which is in the riding of Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon?
Carolyn Bennett Liberal Toronto—St. Paul's, ON
Madam Chair, I am sure that the Minister of Indigenous Services and the B.C. region would be more than willing to entertain a conversation about whatever the people need.
Jamie Schmale Conservative Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON
Madam Chair, I am going to move to the Fond-du-Lac Airport. The minister might remember December 13, 2017, when there was a serious crash. With 22 passengers and three crew members on board, a West Wind Aviation flight crashed shortly after takeoff. Infrastructure Canada and the indigenous community have been working to secure funding to upgrade that airport, but that funding has not yet started to flow. Could you tell us why?
The Acting Chair NDP Carol Hughes
Again, I would ask the member to address his questions to the Chair.
The hon. minister has 25 seconds to respond.
Carolyn Bennett Liberal Toronto—St. Paul's, ON
Madam Chair, that was indeed a terrible tragedy. I certainly remember meeting with the leadership. We will continue to work to get that airport fixed.
Jamie Schmale Conservative Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON
Madam Chair, Bill C-92, an act respecting first nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families is something that has received a lot of support in the House. The throne speech has articulated that the government plans to move forward with indigenous communities.
How can indigenous communities move forward on Bill C-92 by making their own decisions regarding child welfare when there is no plan for transition?
Carolyn Bennett Liberal Toronto—St. Paul's, ON
Madam Chair, I would have to disagree with the hon. member in that it is very clear on how it is laid out. Any community that would like to assert its jurisdiction on its children and families will begin the process of writing its child well-being law. The Anishinabek Nation is doing so many. As it writes its laws, the jurisdiction will be transferred and the negotiation will happen in terms of the funding.
Jamie Schmale Conservative Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON
Madam Chair, can the minister clarify how a community can “control their own destiny” when many communities that we have spoken to do not see a plan?
Carolyn Bennett Liberal Toronto—St. Paul's, ON
Madam Chair, it was very interesting last week at the first ministers' meeting on the status of women to see the brilliant presentation from B.C. As communities develop their comprehensive community plans, so many of them now are starting to move that plan into self-determination. It really is inspiring as they come together as a community to write their own destiny.
Jamie Schmale Conservative Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON
Madam Chair, what type of advocacy body would be put in place to deal with such things as injuries, death and that type of thing for indigenous governing bodies under this?
Carolyn Bennett Liberal Toronto—St. Paul's, ON
Madam Chair, I do not quite understand the question with respect to a body. I must say that it did not make any sense.
Jamie Schmale Conservative Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON
Madam Chair, it was a question given to us by the Alberta minister of child services.
Carolyn Bennett Liberal Toronto—St. Paul's, ON
You did not say it was from the Alberta child services.
Jamie Schmale Conservative Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON
Yes I did. Would you care to answer that question?
The Acting Chair NDP Carol Hughes
I would ask the member to address the Chair and the minister as well. No questions are to go directly to each other.
The hon. minister.
Carolyn Bennett Liberal Toronto—St. Paul's, ON
Madam Chair, I think the question speaks to the fact that having agencies and bodies looking after families has not worked. What we are seeing is that communities, whether it is a treaty nation or individual nations, write their own laws and they will look after their own children and youth.
Jamie Schmale Conservative Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON
Madam Chair, a number of the first nations communities, and provincial governments, have expressed concern that they do not see a plan coming forward. Many first nations communities that we have spoken with do not see an idea of how they can move forward.
This is three weeks away from coming into place. Are you not done the consultation yet?
Carolyn Bennett Liberal Toronto—St. Paul's, ON
Madam Chair, the whole excitement about this new approach is that it will not be designed top-down, and that the plans will be built bottom-up by communities, for communities and in the best interests of their children and youth, to keep families together and to bring their children home.
Jamie Schmale Conservative Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON
Madam Chair, can the minister explain, under the UNDRIP legislation, if there is a definition of free, prior and informed consent?
Carolyn Bennett Liberal Toronto—St. Paul's, ON
Madam Chair, yes. I think that everything that we understand about free, prior and informed consent is that indigenous people and the rights-holders have to be at the very first idea of a project and be able to give their best advice, their indigenous knowledge, in order to move projects through.
Jamie Schmale Conservative Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON
Madam Chair, there is $171 million for funding to encourage indigenous participation in the fisheries and oceans sector, yet the only indigenous company bidding on tugboats as part of the oceans protection plan has been shut out of the bid to benefit a non-compliant bid from Irving. Why is this?