House of Commons Hansard #35 of the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was commissioner.
This summary is computer-generated. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.
Commissioner for Modern Treaty Implementation Act Second reading of Bill C-10. The bill establishes an independent Commissioner for Modern Treaty Implementation to ensure federal accountability for treaty obligations. Liberals argue it is a vital, co-developed step for reconciliation, trust, and economic prosperity, urging quick passage. Conservatives oppose it as unnecessary bureaucracy, stating it duplicates the Auditor General's work, lacks enforcement power, and highlights the government's failure to sign new treaties. The Bloc supports the principle but seeks stronger enforcement powers. The Green Party urges swift, non-partisan passage, emphasizing Indigenous partners' long-standing advocacy. 56100 words, 7 hours in 2 segments: 1 2.
Richard Martel Conservative Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC
Mr. Speaker, people from the Saguenay aluminum sector are expecting results. As everyone back home knows, the Prime Minister was elected on a promise that he was the right man for the job of negotiating with the Americans.
Since his election, tariffs have doubled. Despite mounting concessions, companies are still adrift in uncertainty and Canada's in a more vulnerable position than ever.
What is the Prime Minister waiting for to live up to his promise and put an end to all tariffs?
Carlos Leitão LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, we visited Saguenay and spoke to business owners there. The aluminum sector is indeed in a worrisome situation. We have measures and programs to help companies.
In the meantime, I would remind the House that 85% of Canadian exports enter the United States tariff-free.
Richard Martel Conservative Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC
Mr. Speaker, I would like to point out that the deficit has doubled, that $54 billion in investments has left this country and that 86,000 workers have lost their jobs. Canada is far from being the G7 country with the best economy. It is in last place.
We need to create wealth, but we are not competitive with this government in power. The Prime Minister promised to remove all tariffs on everything. Why is he not keeping his promises?
Carlos Leitão LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, as the old saying goes, it takes two to tango. In other words, to remove the tariffs, we have to be able to negotiate with our counterparts. Until now, that has not necessarily been possible. We are not going to rush into trying just anything. We will get the best deal possible under the circumstances.
Costas Menegakis Conservative Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister promised to negotiate a win with President Trump and get a deal by July 21. Three months later, there is still no deal. He promised elbows up and then he caved on countertariffs and more, getting nothing in return but higher U.S. tariffs. He promised the fastest-growing economy in the G7 but delivered the fastest-shrinking G7 economy, with the second-highest unemployment rate. For the 86,000 workers who have lost their jobs since he took office, time is up.
Will the Prime Minister keep his promise and negotiate an end to all U.S. tariffs today?
Steven MacKinnon LiberalMinister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker after this entire question period, Canadians can be forgiven for thinking that it takes the Conservatives a little long to get out of their seat when it comes to defending this country. It looks a little too sneakily much like the Conservatives are happy to see a tough negotiation in the White House.
Canadians will not accept anything but standing four-square behind our Prime Minister and this government as we take Canada's hopes and Canada's dreams to Washington and get the best deal possible. That is what we will be doing, and the Conservatives should not look like they are settling for anything less.
Marcus Powlowski Liberal Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON
Mr. Speaker, many years of underinvestment in affordable housing for indigenous people and northerners has resulted in a serious gap in affordable housing for both of these groups. Can the Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs tell the House how the new government is working with indigenous leadership to close the infrastructure gap, and how Build Canada Homes is turning that partnership into new homes for both northerners and indigenous people?
Rebecca Chartrand LiberalMinister of Northern and Arctic Affairs and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency
Mr. Speaker, through Build Canada Homes, the new government is working with Nunavut Housing Corporation to deliver hundreds of new homes, including factory-built units to build more homes faster. We are working with indigenous partners. The homes are safe, culturally appropriate and not overcrowded. We are supporting Nunavut's goal of 3,000 homes by 2030. We are also applying this indigenous-led, northern-ready approach across the north, delivering homes and strengthening communities, because reconciliation means delivering results together.
Kurt Holman Conservative London—Fanshawe, ON
Mr. Speaker, the Liberal Prime Minister keeps breaking promises to Canadians. He promised the fastest-growing economy in the G7 but delivered the fastest-shrinking economy. He promised to create jobs, but Canada has lost 86,000 jobs. These failures have real consequences. Ontario has lost 38,000 manufacturing jobs because of the U.S. tariffs. In the London region, June's job losses pushed unemployment to 7.2%, the second-highest nonpandemic rate since 2016.
Does the Prime Minister realize his broken promises are having dire effects on Canadians?
Karim Bardeesy LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, we will always be there to support the workers of London and the businesses of London and across southwestern Ontario, to protect jobs, to create jobs and to keep and attract the best talent in the world.
Maybe I will just share some facts for the House in terms of the investment that is coming into Canada: the second-largest FDI stock-to-GDP ratio among G20 countries in 2024 and the second-highest out of 25 countries in the current FDI confidence index. That is investment that is coming into the country.
With our ministers and our trade reciprocation strategy, we expect more jobs, more businesses and more FDI to Canada.
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Mr. Speaker, on the B.C. coast alone there are 900 vessels, 90 of them over 500 tonnes, at their end of life, posing an imminent threat to our environment if they are not recycled. Towing even one large B.C. ferry from Vancouver Island to Halifax to be recycled could cost millions. In Port Alberni, we are ready to build a ship repair and recycling centre of excellence in partnership with first nations.
Will the minister commit to European Union-style regulations to protect workers, safeguard the environment and secure this nation-building infrastructure?
Steven MacKinnon LiberalMinister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, I look forward to working with my hon. colleague on this issue. We have had many interesting conversations and will have, I am sure, many more.
We are protecting the environment, of course. We are removing wrecked and abandoned vessels. For infrastructure like shipbreaking, for example, we work closely with our provincial counterparts. We are going to be taking action to protect our waters and our coasts.
Again, I look forward to working with my hon. friend on this issue.
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has been telling Canadians the government will spend less and invest more while abandoning the Liberals' promise to make mental health a full and equal part of Canada's universal public health care system. It is estimated every dollar invested in mental health generates two dollars of long-term savings, while untreated mental health issues cost our economy more than $50 billion every year.
In Mental Illness Awareness Week, will the government acknowledge that it is time to invest in the mental health of Canadians as a nation-building project?
Marjorie Michel LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question. Mental health is top of mind for this new government, and we will do everything we can to support the mental health of Canadians. In fact, we have a program in place for youth mental health called integrated youth services. This program is providing a great deal of support to young Canadians.
Presence in GalleryOral Questions
The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia
I wish to draw the attention of hon. members to the presence in the gallery of the Hon. Todd Goudy, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan.
The House resumed consideration of the motion that Bill C-10, An Act respecting the Commissioner for Modern Treaty Implementation, be read the second time and referred to a committee.
Juanita Nathan Liberal Pickering—Brooklin, ON
Mr. Speaker, I will continue where I left off.
The draft legislation proposal for the commissioner was shared with over 130 modern treaty partners for their awareness, review and feedback. The partners consulted included groups negotiating a modern treaty, self-governing indigenous governments, sectoral agreement holders, national indigenous organizations and key partners, and provincial and territorial governments.
The reason for this approach was to ensure that all partners with interest in the commissioner's work would be consulted and engaged. The government engaged with partners through bilateral and multilateral meetings, and, using existing working groups, through negotiation tables and implementation committees, where possible. Consultations were originally scheduled to conclude on June 28, 2024, but based on feedback from partners, the consultation period was extended to July 19, 2024. This was to ensure that all partners that may have had an interest in the commissioner's work were consulted and engaged.
In total, the government received over 100 proposed changes to the draft legislation proposal. Over the summer and early fall of 2024, the government engaged with modern treaty partners to discuss the proposed changes and agree on a path forward. Partners that were engaged with and consulted on the proposal shared a diverse range of views and perspectives. Generally, they showed strong support for the commissioner for modern treaty implementation.
A news release from Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated stated, “The creation of a Commissioner of Modern Treaty Implementation demonstrates a real step towards genuine collaboration from Canada.” The Tlicho Government stated, “The Commissioner for Modern Treaty has been decades in the making. This is an exciting moment that our hard work together has paid off, and this important mechanism for accountability and oversight will be established.” Modern treaty partners are pleased with the bill before us, which was codeveloped with them. They have shared with us that the commissioner could help strengthen modern treaty relationships, as well as contribute to reconciliation.
After sharing the draft proposal with partners, the government received a number of insights and proposed changes, many of which shared similar themes and ideas. The legislation before us is the product of the work to integrate as many of the partner's proposed changes as possible from the engagement period in the summer of 2024. For example, the government heard that modern treaty partners needed to be involved in the commissioner's work at the same level as Government of Canada institutions. We made sure this would be the case.
We heard that stronger consultation requirements were needed throughout the legislation. We added those, including new consultation requirements within the independent review process.
We also heard that the commissioner's scope needed to include agreements that support the implementation of modern treaties, like associated self-government and fiscal agreements tied to the treaty. This is now strengthened. This important input was taken into consideration to create the proposed legislation before us today.
The Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations held a meeting with modern treaty leadership on revisions made to the proposed legislation. They signalled their support for the proposal and urged Canada to move forward as quickly as possible to create the commissioner.
Modern treaty partners strongly advocated for the reintroduction of this bill. They are pleased with the bill and they want it to move forward.
The proposed legislation for the commissioner for modern treaty implementation represents a significant achievement in codevelopment and a major milestone. It marks a transformative shift in the modern treaty relationship. Codeveloping this legislation is an important step in the shared journey of reconciliation. The progress that partners have made so far shows just how powerful the collaborative work has been. It is clear the dialogue and input from indigenous partners strengthened the proposal for the commissioner for modern treaty implementation.
Improving awareness, understanding and action in the federal government related to modern treaty implementation is crucial to building strong relationships based on trust, transparency and accountability with modern treaty partners. We will continue to codevelop approaches, and we will work with modern treaty partners to move past the painful legacy of colonialism and ensure that indigenous people have a voice in shaping their own future.
Meegwetch. Marsi.
Jamie Schmale Conservative Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes, ON
Mr. Speaker, what I have heard during the speeches is nothing new. The concern we have raised in the House specifically is that this piece of legislation would not give the new commissioner, whoever that person might be, the ability to hold government departments to account.
We have a slew of reports from the Auditor General already pointing out the failings of governments over the past decades. We have numerous departments set up to monitor modern treaties, among other things, yet government departments do not seem to respond to any reports that are tabled. Why will this be different?
Juanita Nathan Liberal Pickering—Brooklin, ON
Mr. Speaker, the commissioner's job would be to check if the federal government is fulfilling its promises under modern treaties, working in good faith with indigenous partners and upholding the honour of the Crown. The commissioner would do reviews, audits and briefings to see how government programs are working and would share what they find with the minister, indigenous partners and Parliament. This is very important and crucial for accountability.
Mario Beaulieu Bloc La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Québécois welcomes this bill. This is a step in the right direction. I only hope that it will not be a repeat of the situation with the Commissioner of Official Languages. Although numerous complaints have been filed over the past 50 years, it seems like things are moving backwards instead of forwards.
In my colleague's opinion, what will make this position more effective, even though it lacks teeth?
Juanita Nathan Liberal Pickering—Brooklin, ON
Mr. Speaker, I am in support of this commissioner because the legislation marks an important step in advancing reconciliation by promoting transparency, fairness and the implementation of modern treaties. If the bill were able to move to committee, where it could be hashed out and finalized, we would see a step forward in the right direction.
Bill C-10 Commissioner for Modern Treaty Implementation ActGovernment Orders
Winnipeg North Manitoba
Liberal
Kevin Lamoureux LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, one thing I take issue with is that Conservatives do not recognize the true value of having an agent of Parliament who would be appointed for seven years based on the expertise and intelligence brought to that position. Instead, they somewhat believe that we should not worry; the Auditor General can cover it all, marginalizing the desire of indigenous leaders who are advocating for this.
I wonder if my colleague could provide her thoughts in regard to that. At the end of the day, the community would like to see this and other opposition parties are in support of it. It is only the Conservatives who seem to be in opposition to it.
Juanita Nathan Liberal Pickering—Brooklin, ON
Mr. Speaker, there are over 30 organizations in support of this commissioner. Over 150 groups and communities have come together to support it. This is being done in partnership with any and all indigenous communities. I am sure this is the right step forward.
Treaties strengthen and reinforce self-determination by ensuring that indigenous people lead decisions that affect them in areas like land stewardship, cultural protection, resource development and participating in land management decisions. They are only as strong as their implementation, and I think we can see to that.
Jamie Schmale Conservative Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes, ON
Mr. Speaker, the long and short of it is that over six years, the Harper government signed five modern treaties, and over 10 years, the Liberals have signed zero. I can understand why indigenous leaders are calling for this. It is because the government continues to fail.
The member opposite talked about programs. The Auditor General addresses them, but nothing has been acted upon. What is different?