House of Commons photoLost his last election, in 2015, with 17% of the vote.
Business of Supply May 13th, 2015
Mr. Chair, that $1.25 billion over three years, increasing annually at the rate of 4.5%, is statutory funding that would follow Bill C-33, which is still before the House. If, for example, tomorrow morning we had a special meeting of the chiefs and assembly, and they decided to support Bill C-33, the money would be there.
Business of Supply May 13th, 2015
Mr. Chair, the money attached to the implementation of Bill C-33, just like Bill C-33, is on hold. The $200 million, which is not reflected in the estimates, because it is an economic action plan 2015 measure, will have to be accessed through supplementary estimates.
Business of Supply May 13th, 2015
No, Mr. Chair, these are funds aimed at continuing the school initiative programs that sunsetted on March 31. That is what this money is intended for.
Business of Supply May 13th, 2015
Mr. Chair, what is important to recall is that there is in the budget an increase in the overall budget of this department.
As for education, I explained that the estimates are not the last word. There will be further supplementary estimates during the year, and with those we will address the issue of the sunsetting programs that can be renewed. These decisions, of course, are subject to the government and cabinet making those decisions.
Business of Supply May 13th, 2015
You have no clue—
Business of Supply May 13th, 2015
Mr. Chair, the assertion of the hon. member that these children are under the minister's watch shows a great misunderstanding by the member of the responsibility of the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. These children are first and foremost the responsibility of their parents throughout Canada, and the government—
Business of Supply May 13th, 2015
Mr. Chair, what I know is that we were concerned enough, at a time when the priority was balancing the budget in the last economic action plan in 2014, that we budgeted close to $2 billion to improve the education system so that we would have better outcomes. If I recall, clearly the member's party voted against that budget.
Business of Supply May 13th, 2015
No, Mr. Chair, I do not have that information in front of me.
Business of Supply May 13th, 2015
Mr. Chair, I do not have that figure in front of me.
Business of Supply May 13th, 2015
Mr. Chair, most recently—and he voted against it—we committed $500 million over seven years through our economic action plan in 2014, and the 2015 economic action plan has an education and infrastructure fund beginning this year. These funds represent the continuation of the $175 million over three years for school infrastructure that we had announced in economic plan 2012.