Charlie Angus

[Supplementary Estimates (A), 2019-20, December 9th, 2019]

Mr. Chair, I want to let the people know that what the minister's lawyers are saying is completely opposite to what she is telling the House. She is obliged to tell the truth in the House. The lawyers are saying that these children, who are represented by the AFN, Nishnawbe Aski Nation and First Nations Child & Family Caring Society, do not warrant compensation because they have not been tested by the government to the “precise nature and extent of harm suffered by each individual”.

What is the minister going to do, put four-year-old children before her lawyers like the government did to the St. Anne's Residential School survivors? How is the government going to test these children for the precise harms so it does not have to pay?

[Supplementary Estimates (A), 2019-20, December 9th, 2019]

Mr. Chair, I believe the minister in the House has to tell the truth. Therefore, either she is not telling the truth or her lawyers in Federal Court are not, because the lawyers in Federal Court have taken the position that the Liberal government is going to quash a finding of systemic discrimination, because they said that there is no evidence with regard to adverse outcomes that flowed from being denied services.

The minister has told us again and again that she knows that services denied to children have hurt them, but her lawyers are saying the opposite. Who is not telling the truth here?

[Supplementary Estimates (A), 2019-20, December 9th, 2019]

Mr. Chair, how much money has the government spent on its lawyers to fight the Human Rights Tribunal?

[Supplementary Estimates (A), 2019-20, December 9th, 2019]

Mr. Chair, the minister's government has gone to Federal Court to quash a ruling that has found the government guilty of discrimination, and the government said that no evidence was produced that there was harm to children. Is that the government's position, yes or no?

[Supplementary Estimates (A), 2019-20, December 9th, 2019]

Mr. Chair, I appreciate that from the minister, but the legal brief of the federal government says the opposite. It says in paragraph 31 in the latest filing that “There was insufficient evidence before the Tribunal to demonstrate that any particular children were improperly removed from their home.”

Does the minister agree with her government's lawyers?

[Supplementary Estimates (A), 2019-20, December 9th, 2019]

Mr. Chair, the question is this: How many children died while the government fought the Human Rights Tribunal?

[Supplementary Estimates (A), 2019-20, December 9th, 2019]

Mr. Chair, it is always a great honour to rise in this place. I am very honoured to have the opportunity to talk with my friend, the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations. I will keep my remarks fairly short so we can make the most of this.

The Prime Minister said his most important relationship is with first nations people. When I talk to first nations families, they tell me their most important relationship is with their children. Tonight we are talking about the policies of the government that have systemically discriminated without caution, and been found to be reckless discrimination against children who have died.

These have consequences. I think of Azraya Ackabee-Kokopenace, from Grassy Narrows; Amy Owen, Chantell Fox, Jolynn Winter, Jenera Roundsky and Kanina Sue Turtle from Wapekeka; Tammy Keeash, who was found in a brutal condition in the McIntyre River; and Courtney Scott from Fort Albany First Nation, who died a horrific death.

When I read the latest ruling against the government, they said no amount of compensation could ever recover what these children have lost. This case of racial discrimination is one of the worst and it warrants maximum awards.

I have named a few of the children that I am aware of and whose families I have spoken to. APTN says that while the government was fighting the Human Rights Tribunal, 103 children died in care in Ontario.

Could the minister tell us how many children died in care across this country while her government fought the Human Rights Tribunal?

[Resumption of debate on Address in Reply, December 6th, 2019]

Mr. Speaker, if we are going to establish a tone in the House, and while you have a lot of our respect, to call someone “despicable” for asking a question that is relevant to the issues of the day is very unparliamentary. If this is the tone that member is going to raise, we are going to have a very difficult number of years.

I am asking, Mr. Speaker, that you ask the member to withdraw that personal attack.

[Resumption of debate on Address in Reply, December 6th, 2019]

Mr. Speaker, it is very unparliamentary for the leader of a party to accuse someone of being despicable for asking the question. That is the antithesis of democracy—

[Resumption of debate on Address in Reply, December 6th, 2019]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I know it is your first day, and you will make an amazing Speaker, but for the Leader of the Opposition to accuse someone who is representing their—