Supplementary Estimates (A), 2019-20  Mr. Chair, we know from the apprehension of children, whether it is through all of the class actions that we have settled on the sixties scoop and on all of these things, that children are safest when they are with their family or extended family or in their communities. I do believe that we need to find alternate ways to keep these children safe.

Supplementary Estimates (A), 2019-20  Mr. Chair, I think we all know that children apprehended from their families do not do well. Children aging out of care do not do well. We need to keep these families together, which has been the focus as opposed to the money going to lawyers to apprehend children, agencies and non-indigenous foster families.

Supplementary Estimates (A), 2019-20  Mr. Chair, I think the most important number would be that from $600 million that used to go to children and families, it is now $1.6 billion going to children. We have no intention of fighting children in court. We want to get to the table and get them what they deserve.

Supplementary Estimates (A), 2019-20  Mr. Chair, the approach of our government is to make sure that all children who were harmed by these terrible colonial policies will be compensated. However, we have also learned from the Indian residential schools and the sixties scoop that the children who had greater harm or who were in care longer want to be able to tell their stories, and like the class action on 1991 forward, we want to get to the table and get them what they deserve.

Supplementary Estimates (A), 2019-20  Mr. Chair, I think the member opposite understands that the class action now being certified on the 1991 post-sixties scoop up to the present day tends to be the way we sort these things out with respect to what the appropriate care is for the amount of time people were harmed and the degree of the harm.

Supplementary Estimates (A), 2019-20  Mr. Chair, I thank the member for his ongoing advocacy. Any child who dies in care is one child too many. This has been a national tragedy and is a key part of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls. It is a key part of how failed government policies for generations have resulted in this terrible tragedy.

Supplementary Estimates (A), 2019-20  Mr. Chair, this year, we are providing over $40 billion to the provinces and territories to fund our system, which is over $6 billion more than what the Harper Conservatives invested in their last year in government. What is more, we will make an $11-billion investment in mental health care and home care.

Supplementary Estimates (A), 2019-20  Mr. Chair, that is a good question. Once again, Quebec has led the way with respect to critical drugs for pharmacare, and it is very important to have meetings and discussions with the Government of Quebec. We want to ensure that all Quebeckers have the same level of subsidies for their medications as that provided under the federal program.

Supplementary Estimates (A), 2019-20  Mr. Chair, I appreciate the member's question. It is a good one. We believe it is very important that all of Canada's first nations have safe, healthy infrastructure. The Minister of Indigenous Services' priority is to keep the promises set out in our platform by implementing a strategy by 2030 to build all the necessary infrastructure.

Indigenous Affairs  Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for Winnipeg Centre for his ongoing advocacy on this. Gender equality is a fundamental human right, and Bill S-3 does eliminate the sex-based discrimination from the Indian Act. With the ministerial special representative's consultations concluded and her report tabled, we now know what our partners need in a successful implementation plan.

Northern Affairs  Mr. Speaker, it is with pride that Canada is working with the Government of Nunavut and all our northern partners to develop and implement the new Arctic and northern policy framework, which will be done based on the principles that were determined by northerners around infrastructure, investing in people and investing in our sovereignty.

Indigenous Affairs  Mr. Speaker, the relationship with first nations, Inuit and Métis in this country is the most important relationship. It is therefore extraordinarily important that in any agreement we make, the section 35 rights holders are consulted. There have been discussions and concerns raised by indigenous peoples in the Northwest Territories.

The Senate  Mr. Speaker, the government is moving forward on key legislative initiatives to implement the UN declaration, including the legislation on languages and child and family services. We also supported Bill C-262 as an important next step. We too are deeply disappointed to see that the Conservative leader continues to allow his caucus members in the other place to use partisan delay tactics to prevent this important bill from moving forward, blatantly ignoring the unanimous motion passed by the House.

Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act  Madam Speaker, I would like to reassure the member that face-to-face consultations with the officials from three territorial governments, representatives from the Inuvialuit and Inuit organizations, as well as the existing oil and gas rights holders were launched in March 2017 and concluded in July.

Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act  Madam Speaker, I certainly respect the member opposite's point of view and the advocacy she gave in the last Parliament of fighting against the fusion of these boards. I think the member will come to understand that there are special bills that ought to reflect the consensus and the agreement that first nations and Inuit or Métis have come to with Canada.