House of Commons photoLost his last election, in 2015, with 17% of the vote.
Business of Supply May 13th, 2015
Mr. Chair, the suicide rate is far too high, and that is why, through the Department of Health, we invest significant sums every year in mental health to help these Inuit children and adults who live in Canada's north.
Our strategy for the north includes measures to help the entire population living in Canada's north, and we are making significant progress.
Business of Supply May 13th, 2015
Mr. Chair, the Government of Canada and the Pictou Landing Band Council agreed on the terms of the financial contribution as ordered by the Federal Court of Canada, and we continue to reimburse the nation for all the costs incurred, from before the trial, or before the court heard the case, to now.
Business of Supply May 13th, 2015
Mr. Chair, our government is taking measures to ensure that children and families get the support they need to live a healthy life in safety.
We are implementing Jordan's principle with the provinces and the first nations so that services for first nations children with multiple disabilities requiring a number of service providers carry on in the event of a dispute between the federal and provincial governments.
Across the country, contacts and federal and provincial processes are in place, and potential cases where Jordan's principle applies are being addressed and resolved as they arise.
Business of Supply May 13th, 2015
Mr. Chair, the fact of the matter is that many first nations communities face the same challenges in providing access to safe drinking water as do other small, remote or isolated communities, such as difficulties in finding and retaining qualified water treatment plant operators. The aboriginal demographics from the 2011 national household survey showed that 70% of first nations reserves had a population of fewer than 500 people and that 285 first nations reserves had fewer than 100 inhabitants.
That is why, being reasonable, we have this long-term action plan that is in effect. The amount of funds invested in water and waste water is unprecedented. It is close to $3 billion since we took office. As indicated in these estimates, we continue in the same direction to execute our action plan.
Business of Supply May 13th, 2015
Mr. Chair, again this is a sunset that was in fact renewed. In terms of progress, I would like the hon. member to know that the latest inspection on the annual performance inspection cycle showed that the number of water systems rated as high risk has decreased by some 9 percentage points, from 206 to 127. Significant progress is being made, and we will continue in that direction with investments that are earmarked in these estimates.
Business of Supply May 13th, 2015
Mr. Chair, this is certainly a difference from the previous government of which she was a member, that obviously left all of those first nations without proper water systems.
Our action plan is a long-term plan. There are several pillars to it, and it is being funded at an unprecedented rate by this government. As indicated in the estimates this year, we will continue delivering this action plan for water and waste water, along with the development of regulations with first nations across Canada to ensure that for the first time they enjoy standards that protect their potable water, just like other Canadians take for granted every day.
Business of Supply May 13th, 2015
Mr. Chair, just quickly on the issue of education, I would point out to the hon. member that since we have taken office we have increased funding for education by some 25%, which is an unprecedented amount in this country.
On the issue of water and waste water, from 2006 to 2014 our government has invested approximately $3 billion to support first nations communities in managing their water and waste water infrastructure. We are delivering on our commitment to extend the first nations water and waste water action plan with a further investment of $323 million over two years. That began in the last fiscal year and will continue in 2015-16.
Business of Supply May 13th, 2015
Mr. Chair, the post-secondary students that we want to encourage to pursue post-secondary studies were very happy to learn that in the last budget we again renewed our contribution to Indspire to ensure that post-secondary education students benefit from bursaries. Indspire levers from other stakeholders because of the federal contribution, so this will help greatly.
Specifically as to the number of students, in the vicinity of 20,000 to 22,000 people benefited from the post-secondary education program. However, the conditions for access to this post-secondary education fund is decided by first nations and we have no control over their decision as to what amounts, for how long, and what indeed they do subsidize with those funds.
Business of Supply May 13th, 2015
Mr. Chair, post-secondary education, as the hon. member ought to know, is administered by first nations band councils throughout Canada. AADNC, our department, transfers these funds to the first nations and they are the ones who make those decisions. Therefore, this is information that they have and we do not.
Business of Supply May 13th, 2015
Mr. Chair, we have been very clear that funding would not replace reform. Since the decision by AFN and the Assembly of Chiefs to reject and ask the government to abandon Bill C-33, we are working with stakeholders in the region to try to find a way to reform this non-system to ensure that at the end of the day the first nations' children can enjoy a good education system that produces good outcomes and results. We are talking with several stakeholders and trying to find a way to ensure that those objectives are met.