Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2) I am pleased to table, in both official languages, copies of the 2008 Annual Report of the Aboriginal Healing Foundation .
House of Commons photoLost his last election, in 2015, with 28% of the vote.
Aboriginal Healing Foundation April 22nd, 2009
Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2) I am pleased to table, in both official languages, copies of the 2008 Annual Report of the Aboriginal Healing Foundation .
Mr. Speaker, we are working through the Métis protocol on issues that are important to the Métis, including access to the budget 2009 initiatives.
Our government is proud to be making notable progress with the Métis National Council. We have been working very hard on a government-to-government basis from economic development to housing to educational outcomes. We remain committed to working in partnership to improve the quality of life for Métis people. The government is making notable progress.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to speak to the question from the hon. member for Labrador. I am quite surprised by this question. Our government is deeply engaged in a relationship with the Métis, and we are committed to concrete actions.
Last year our government signed the historic Métis nation protocol, an important partnership agreement with the Métis National Council to improve the lives of Métis. Already we have met with them to identify a number of priority areas important to the Métis nation, including war veteran issues, Métis former students of the residential school system and economic development.
Clearly our government is committed to taking steps to ensure that Métis fully share in economic opportunities offered throughout Canada. In fact, we believe that increasing aboriginal participation in the economy is the most effective way to improve persistent socio-economic conditions faced by aboriginal people in Canada, and there are some real success stories out there.
In budget 2009 we have taken some very important steps to help aboriginal people with workforce training opportunities by investing an additional $100 million over three years in the aboriginal skills and employment partnership initiative. This is expected to support the creation of 6,000 jobs for aboriginal Canadians. I happen to have personal experience with that program, and I know it is achieving results. We are committed to ensuring that Métis have full access to this program.
In addition, our government is investing $75 million in a two-year aboriginal skills and training strategic investment fund. In the coming months we will introduce a new federal framework that will align all federal actions in support of aboriginal economic development, including recent and new investments to enhance access to capital. The Métis will play a significant role in this framework.
Aboriginal Affairs April 3rd, 2009
Mr. Speaker, advocates like that say that the declaration is straightforward and unambiguous. It is clearly not. Four nations initially voted against it, 11 more refused to support it, and 35 states were absent from the vote. I might add that the Liberal administration before ours refused to sign the document as well.
There are more than 50 countries that share our concerns. The declaration in its current form lends itself to many different interpretations. We will stick to delivering--
Aboriginal Affairs April 3rd, 2009
Mr. Speaker, the government takes our international commitments seriously and we are not prepared to sign on to this non-binding document because it is inconsistent with our Constitution, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the National Defence Act, Supreme Court rulings, policies under which we negotiate treaties, and does not account for third party interests.
This declaration does not balance the rights of all Canadians. Canada is a world leader on this issue and one of the few nations which provides for constitutionally entrenched aboriginal rights.
This government believes in delivering real results.
Indian Oil and Gas Act April 2nd, 2009
Madam Speaker, I listened to the member's speech with great interest.
There was a fair amount of comment on the case that went to the Supreme Court. I point out that its final decision was important from the standpoint that not only did it not find fault with the government, but in a seven to zero decision, the court said that the government had no authority to invest the money in the way it was contemplated by the legal suit.
Indeed, we are trying to modernize this whole regime so first nations can have full benefit of their oil and gas resources. That is why the we wanted to get the legislation through. That is why we have the First Nations Oil and Gas and Moneys Management Act, which will allow first nations to manage their own moneys as well, if they so chose to do that. This has been rather well thought out and we see major progress.
I also add that we have this continuous change process to which this bill commits us.
Does the member agree that the accumulation of various measures represents major progress and addresses the concerns she has expressed in her comments?
Indian Oil and Gas Act April 2nd, 2009
Madam Speaker, I was asked a question about the regulations going forward from here. It has been pointed out to me that the regulations will come into effect in 2010, assuming that the bill is adopted.
There has been considerable consultation. Specifically referring to the speech by the member for Labrador, it is worthwhile to point out that since consultations started on the bill in 1999, 10 years ago, on Indian oil and gas, the committee has heard testimony during 40 technical committee meetings on various amendments proposed to the bill. There have been 22 Indian Oil and Gas Canada co-management board meetings at which there has been further discussion on the bill. There have been numerous other opportunities and engagements since then at the Indian Resource Council annual meetings, tribal council meetings and symposia where the bill was discussed.
We have a consensus document from 130 first nations. I think everyone should be quite cognizant of the fact that there can always be more discussion, but in order to reap the benefits of the legislation, it is time to move on.
I would ask my colleague from Labrador if he does not subscribe to that same point of view at this point. Ten years of consultations and the amount of dialogue that has gone on regarding the bill, really we are at the point where we need to move forward.
Indian Oil and Gas Act April 2nd, 2009
Madam Speaker, at this point the committee has not been seized by that question. That could be a question that the committee might want to deal with.
The area in which Bill C-5 provides incorporation by reference of provincial legislation is actually quite limited, but it is that limited ability which allows us to incorporate many very thick provincial pieces of legislation, very meaty stuff. Those areas are determining the quantity or quality of oil or gas recovered, combining oil or gas rates for joint exploitation, abandonment of wells, establishment of administrative fees for services provided, environmental protection from the effects of oil and gas exploration, oil and gas conservation, and equitable production.
Even though it looks like it is a huge task, I think most of this has already been pre-contemplated. There has been a technical committee working on this through Indian Oil and Gas Canada. I do not think this should be a long time coming.
Indian Oil and Gas Act April 2nd, 2009
Madam Speaker, I appreciate the question from the chair of the aboriginal affairs committee, which has been seized with getting this bill through the House.
Indian Oil and Gas Canada is responsible for managing and administering exploration and development on first nations lands. They are carried out under the direction and with the approval of first nations band councils. They are mandated to fulfill the Crown's fiduciary and statutory obligations.
Regarding the issue of Canada's fiduciary obligations, the federal government has committed that the fiduciary relationship will not diminish and will continue unchanged. In fact, the proposed changes actually strengthen Canada's ability to express its fiduciary obligations because of the clarity in the bill in terms of specific legislative and regulatory capacity, so that will allow us to fulfill our role much more efficiently.
The aboriginal and treaty rights of first nations are clearly unaffected by the provisions of the bill. They remain the same.
Indian Oil and Gas Act April 2nd, 2009
Madam Speaker, I know that the regulatory process is going to involve a lot of consultation between the government and the Indian Resource Council. Producing first nations are very much a part of this exercise and I would assume that they are good neighbours.
I would assume that the fact that we are incorporating so much provincial legislation by reference would mean that the standard that would be applied would be very similar to what is currently applied, and that the level of consultation and advice is what is acceptable in the neighbourhood.