Greg Rickford

[New Democratic Party of Canada, February 11th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, when the Liberal Party asked Canadians for a mandate to implement a job-killing carbon tax, they flatly rejected it. No matter to the NDP leader; he is ignoring Canadians' position and is peddling a similar, more expensive carbon tax. In fact, if he gets his way, the NDP leader would impose a new $20 billion job-killing carbon tax. This new tax would kill Canadian jobs and hurt Canadian families by making everything cost more, from gas to groceries to electricity.

Did he check with his northern Ontario caucus on this tax? The fact is that Canadians do not want the NDP's $20 billion carbon tax, and our government will continue to stand up against this NDP policy that would kill jobs and stall economic growth. As long as the NDP continues to push its $20 billion job-killing carbon tax, the leader will continue to be as unpopular as the Liberal Party, if he is not there already, especially in northern Ontario.

[Arctic Council, February 1st, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, this is coming from a member who openly mused last week in Yellowknife, where I was, that the Northwest Territories did not need any more jobs.

Canada's north is home to world-class reserves of natural resources. This represents tremendous economic potential, not just for northerners but for all Canadians. That is why we are working with aboriginal groups, the territorial governments and the private sector to ensure those resources are developed in a sustainable manner.

We have strong laws and regulatory frameworks to protect our environment in the north. We want northerners to be able to benefit today and for generations to come from jobs and economic growth in the north.

[Aboriginal Affairs, February 1st, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, much like economic action plan 2012, budget 2013 will focus on jobs and opportunities for all Canadians, including first nations.

The protection of aboriginal treaty rights and consultation with aboriginals are recognized in our Constitution and our statutes. Canada has accepted the declaration describing the aspirations of aboriginal peoples, and this represents an important step towards strengthening relationships with aboriginal peoples.

We continue to make significant investments in the lives of first nations people.

[Aboriginal Affairs, February 1st, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, in December the minister launched an intensive consultation process that will take place with first nation parents, students, leaders and educators from coast to coast to coast. The first of these intensive consultation sessions took place last week.

The minister has written to every community to invite them to these sessions. Their input will be critical to the development and planning of a first nation education act, which will help ensure that first nation students have the same ability and access to a quality education as every other student in Canada.

[Outstanding Ontario Physician, February 1st, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, here is another great news story from the great Kenora riding. Dr. Yvon Gagnon, a well-respected general practitioner from Vermilion Bay has been honoured with the Council Award by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario for demonstrating excellence in the medical field.

Dr. Gagnon is the founder of the Points North Family Health Team in the Vermilion Bay area, providing leadership and quality health care for residents and their families who reside outside of the urban centres and away from the larger health facilities.

As a former nurse in many northern communities, I appreciate the great work that Dr. Gagnon does for our constituents. His passion to provide excellent health care sets a high standard for physicians across the region.

Health care in the rural areas of my riding is critical to constituents, and that is why our government has invested in programs like the student loan forgiveness program to get quality physicians and nurses in the north.

Dr. Gagnon and his achievements are just another example of what is so great about the great Kenora riding.

[Business of Supply, January 31st, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the question.

Our government has consulted aboriginals on many issues, including potable water and waste water.

We are now beginning a process focused on education, and we will be working with aboriginal communities and our provincial partners across Canada to ensure that aboriginal children and youth have the same opportunities as children in southern Canada with respect to education outcomes.

These are two good examples of how we are working with aboriginal communities to improve education, health and sustainable development in their communities.

[Business of Supply, January 31st, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member not only for his question but for his important work on something for which there is broad consensus in this place, which is to work away at removing, in a responsible way, parts of the Indian Act that no longer apply to the modern circumstances of our country, and for first nations people and their communities. He is taking an important step down that path through his private member's bill.

Importantly, the First Nations Land Management Act puts communities out from underneath more than one-third of the statutes in the Indian Act. This is seen as progress, from first nations communities, their leadership and the government. It gives them the opportunity and flexibility to focus on the economic priorities of their community, which of course has a positive impact on the social health and sustainability of their respective communities.

[Business of Supply, January 31st, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, the government is very pleased with the trajectory we are on in working with willing partners. Like economic action plan 2012, in 2013 we will be focused on jobs and opportunities for all Canadians, which includes first nations and their communities.

Obviously the protection of aboriginal treaty rights and consultations with aboriginals are recognized in our constitution, in statute. While the declaration is not legally binding, of course Canada endorsed the aspirational document as a significant step forward in strengthening relationships with aboriginal peoples.

We have made unprecedented investments into things that will make a concrete difference in people's lives. Every single time, on the issue of whether they support something or not, the NDP members vote against it.

[Business of Supply, January 31st, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, of course, lands designations allow first nations to collect property tax, lease land to third-party businesses and develop their mineral and oil and gas resources.

Some of the most successful first nations in Canada, such as the Osoyoos Indian Band and the Tk’emlups Indian Band, could not have achieved their success without designating their lands. Oil and gas-producing first nations collectively generated more than $1 billion in royalties over the last five years.

The recent amendments to lands designation will make it easier for communities interested in pursuing these kinds of commercial and industrial economic development opportunities.

[Business of Supply, January 31st, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the enthusiasm of the member. It bears noting that I spent a great deal of my career through the nineties as a nurse living and working in isolated first nation communities where these statistics were unfortunately put together.

The reality is that healthy and sustainable first nation communities depend on being fully integrated in economic development in their respective regions. That is a key determinant. There are health facilities working and great nurses in the extended role offering myriad different programs, a full partnership with health authorities that are transitioning and identifying their priorities in key areas. The Minister of Health, who comes from the north, has done a great job in this regard and we are going to stay on that track, working with willing partners and improving the health and sustainability of first nation communities moving forward.