Bernard Valcourt

[Poverty, February 3rd, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, as I have said many times, since nutrition north was put in place we have seen the benefits. We have seen northerners benefit from the program. As a matter of fact, the transportation of nutritious perishable food has gone up by 25%. The cost to a family of four has gone down by $110 a month. That is significant.

In addition, we have already indicated to the House, to all members, and northerners that we have accepted the recommendations of the Auditor General. In the next few weeks and months, we are going to keep consulting with northerners to improve the program.

[Aboriginal Affairs, February 2nd, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, as I have said before, our government believes that aboriginal people should have the same quality of life and the same opportunities as other Canadians. That is why we continue to take action and move forward on key priorities.

Since 2006, our investment in housing, for example, just in Manitoba, has resulted in the construction of more than 1,800 new homes. We have committed significant funds to Manitoba's water and waste water infrastructure. We have also made investments in education and job training, and we will continue that.

[Aboriginal Affairs, February 2nd, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, the government works every day and every week with its aboriginal partners across the country to address the challenges that are present in many of these communities.

We know that the NDP measures the government's effort based on the tax dollars that have been invested. If we use that as our yardstick, we can see that since 2006, investments to improve life in aboriginal communities have increased significantly.

[Northern Development, January 27th, 2015]

Again, Mr. Speaker, the government is indeed taking action. We indicated to the House and to northerners that we would implement all of the recommendations of the Auditor General.

The fact remains that the NDP may grandstand and try to make political points and play politics with the fate of northerners, but the fact is that the results are clear.

Since the implementation of the nutrition north program, perishable and nutritious food shipped to northern Canada has gone up by 25%. The cost of a food basket for a family of four has gone down by $110 per month. That is quite a significant achievement.

[Questions on the Order Paper, January 26th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, insofar as Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, AANDC, and its special operating agency, Indian Oil and Gas Canada, are concerned, the response is as follows:

With regard to (a), first nations schools on reserve covered by regional first nations organizations that receive funding under the first nation student success program, FNSSP, are required to administer to their students standardized tests that are identical to those used by the relevant provincial ministry of education to assess student outcomes. Regional first nations organizations are responsible for the collection, analysis and reporting to AANDC of data on student achievement.

With regard to (b), Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada does not gather information on the ages of the individuals who were tested.

With regard to (c), Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada’s 2013-2014 departmental performance report, DPR, sets out the percentages of male and female first nations students, broken down by region, who: attended an on-reserve school covered by a regional first nations organization that received funding under the first nation school success program; participated in provincial standardized testing; and met the provincially established standard associated with this testing.

Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada does not gather or break down information on literacy and numeracy results by reserve.

[Northern Development, January 26th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, again, our government wants northerners like all other Canadians to have access to quality and nutritious food. As a matter of fact, and as the member cannot deny, the results are clear. Since the implementation of nutrition north, the cost of a food basket has gone down by $110 since 2011. Moreover, 25% more nutritious food gets to northern Canada because of this program.

In addition, the Auditor General has made recommendations that we have said we accept and will be implementing to benefit the program.

[Aboriginal Affairs, January 26th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, our government believes that aboriginal people should have the same quality of life, the same opportunities, and the same choices as all other Canadians.

That is why we continue to work and to take concrete action on priorities that we share with first nations and aboriginals, such as on economic development, good governance, skills training, and on advancing treaty negotiations and reconciliation, and we will continue in that vein.

[Northern Development, December 4th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, whether in English or in French, it is the same charade.

They refuse to admit the facts, which have been well established. Since introducing the nutrition north Canada program, the amount of nutritious food transported to the North has increased by almost 25%. The cost of a food basket for a family of four has decreased by $110 a month on average. I know that $110 a month is not a lot for a socialist in a suit and tie, but it is something for the people of Nunavut.

[Northern Development, December 4th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, the record is clear. The Auditor General has reported and has made recommendations so that we can improve the effectiveness of a program, which has already brought significant results. The shipment of nutritious food has gone up by 25%. Those members cannot deny that. The average food basket for an average family of four has gone down by $110 a month, whereas it has gone up everywhere else in the country. They cannot see it. Stop playing politics on the backs of northerners.

[Northern Development, December 4th, 2014]

I sometimes have a hard time understanding, Mr. Speaker.

I want to say unequivocally that unlike the previous Liberal government, this government has made long-term prosperity in the north a priority, whether it is economic development, or social development or the research station. No government in the history of Canada has done more for the north. We need more members like the—