House of Commons photoLost his last election, in 2015, with 28% of the vote.
Aboriginal Affairs January 28th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, we are focused on creating jobs and economic opportunities for aboriginal Canadians, and we are getting results. For example, over the past month I announced eight more first nations would join the 61 first nations that had chosen freedom from 34 sections of the Indian Act. Just last week, I also announced new regulations that would allow a natural gas project to move forward on the Haisla First Nation in northwest British Columbia, creating well-paying jobs and economic growth.
Aboriginal Affairs January 28th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, I am proud of the concrete actions we have taken to improve the lives of aboriginal people over the past years.
Since 2010, I have brought forward six pieces of legislation that will improve the living standards of aboriginal men, women and children across the country. Just this past month I announced funding for clean drinking water projects and economic development initiatives and a national initiative to improve first nation graduation rates.
I remain committed to working with aboriginal people and to taking concrete steps to enable them to become full participants in the economy.
Aboriginal Affairs January 28th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, our government respects our obligations on the duty to consult. Every year we carry out approximately 5,000 consultations with first nations.
As minister, I have now visited over 50 first nation communities since 2010. I have had hundreds of productive meetings with first nation chiefs, councillors and community members across the country. We will continue to work in partnership with first nations to create the conditions for stronger, healthier communities.
Aboriginal Affairs January 28th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, the member opposite knows we have been working in partnership with first nations for seven consecutive years. Since 2006 we have delivered on our promise to improve accountability and transparency. We have settled over 80 land claims. We have invested in over 700 projects that are linking aboriginals in Canada with jobs, job training, counselling and mentorship programs.
We are proud of our record. We will continue to support first nations so they can achieve the prosperity they deserve.
Aboriginal Affairs January 28th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, we are working in partnership with first nations on the issues addressed in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. We continue to work with willing partners on shared priorities, including education, economic development and access to safe drinking water.
Our government continues to take action because we believe that first nations deserve the same opportunities as all other Canadians.
Questions on the Order Paper December 10th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, since the fourth quarter of 2008-09, Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, AANDC, provides grants and contributions information on a quarterly basis under proactive disclosure reporting for all budgeted amounts, both lower and greater than $25,000.
AANDC’s proactive disclosure is available online at: http://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/prodis/grtcon/rprts-eng.asp.
The public proactive disclosure contains information on awarded amounts to individuals, organizations or other levels of government for all programs within a specific quarter. The allocation may not necessarily be what was paid to the recipient. It may include initial or amended allocations by program by recipient and by quarter. Due to the full disclosure of amounts, some amounts are relatively small.
Aboriginal Affairs December 6th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, we believe the best way to ensure first nation children and families get the support and services they need is by working together with first nations, the provinces and the territories. Our commitment to supporting first nation children and families is clear. We have significantly increased funding and partnerships to enable first nation children and families to access the services they need.
Aboriginal Affairs December 6th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, we are committed to supporting first nations children and families. We support more than 40 women's shelters across Canada. We have increased child and family services funding by 25% and invested in family violence protection. We have also introduced legislation to protect the rights of women on reserve.
We will continue to work with first nations to ensure that children and families have the support they need.
Questions on the Order Paper December 6th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, the two first nations were created by order in council on November 21, 2002. At that point, there were 691 people on the founding list for the Sheshatshiu Innu First Nation, and 491 people on the founding list for the Mushuau Innu First Nation.
Additionally, there was a follow-up list on August 22, 2003, which added 158 members to the Sheshatshiu Innu First Nation list and 94 members to the Mushuau Innu First Nation list.
Since that time, an additional 585 persons were added to the Sheshatshiu Innu First Nation list, with 322 of those individuals being born before November 20, 2002, and 263 individuals being born after that date.
Three hundred persons were added to the Mushuau Innu First Nation list, with 96 of those individuals being born before November 20, 2002, and 204 individuals being born after that date.
Aboriginal Affairs December 5th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, in less than one year since the Crown-First Nations Gathering, we have made real progress for first nations communities. We have invested $275 million for additional funding for education, an addition $330 million to improve the safety of first nations drinking water, additional money for the family violence protection program and we have launched a joint task force on economic development.
We continue to work with first nations in a productive enhancement of their quality of life.