Bernard Valcourt

[Aboriginal Affairs, June 11th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, protecting children living on reserve is a priority for our government. That is why, since 2006, we have used a prevention-based approach to delivering family and child services.

To protect these children, we have increased funding for the family violence prevention program by 38% and we have passed the Family Homes on Reserves and Matrimonial Interests or Rights Act.

In fact, since 2006, our government has invested more than $10 billion to support the primary and secondary education of roughly 117,500 first nations children on reserve. The NDP voted against those measures in every budget.

[Aboriginal Affairs, June 10th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, my answer will be the same as my first one.

If my colleague had respect for the courts, he would know that they are currently examining these allegations and that we must let them do so.

Our government will continue to receive and disclose these documents through the process that was agreed to by all the parties in the agreement.

[Aboriginal Affairs, June 10th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, the premise of the hon. member's question is totally false.

Our government continues, and will continue, to receive and disclose the documents through the process that was agreed to by all the parties to the Indian residential schools settlement agreement.

We will continue to take our obligations seriously, which we do every day.

[Aboriginal Affairs, May 15th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, again, contrary to the New Democratic Party, I do not believe that these chiefs represent the majority of the chiefs and councils throughout Canada, who I know and have met many times, who care about reconciliation and who care about their children and their education. I do not think this group is representative of the majority of first nations, and I trust that the good, hard-working chiefs will speak up.

[Aboriginal Affairs, May 15th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I think members of the House will agree that we should have members condemn, in the strongest terms, the threats of those rogue chiefs who are threatening the security of Canadians, their families, and taxpayers.

I will meet with these people when they unequivocally withdraw their threats to the security of Canadian families, taxpayers, and citizens.

[Aboriginal Affairs, May 14th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, our government recognizes indeed that housing is fundamental to a good quality of life. That is why we have taken concrete steps to support first nations in providing safe and warm shelter. Since 2006, our government supported, through my department, the construction of 11,000 new homes and the renovation of 21,000 existing homes in first nation communities. While we continue to work in collaboration to improve the first nation quality of life, the NDP continues voting against every measure.

[Aboriginal Affairs, May 14th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, as the member knows, we have created important programs especially for first nations, to build new housing as well as renovate thousands of housing units across the country. It is definitely a challenge that we must address together with the first nations. We are continuing our efforts in this area.

[Aboriginal Affairs, May 2nd, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, it is rich to hear this from the member, when every single motion or project advanced to improve the situation of first nations members across the country is opposed by the NDP.

For the first time ever, a bill before the House has proposed that children on reserve have a statutory right to education, and they oppose it.

[Aboriginal Affairs, May 2nd, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, we know full well that the NDP has never really been that concerned about the country's taxpayers.

They want to throw money at the problem, as they have always said: tax and spend. From the outset, we said that investments would not replace reform. We said that reform would be coupled with the funding that was committed in the last budget.

[Aboriginal Affairs, May 2nd, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, the government has made first nations education reform a priority. We feel that first nations are in the best position to know what their children need. That is why Bill C-33 will ensure that first nations are responsible and accountable for administering their own education systems on reserves.

This debate has been going on for decades. Still today, the NDP is opposed to investing nearly $2 billion more in the system.