COVID-19 Pandemic  Madam Chair, that is a very important question and we need to frame the premise. Indigenous Services Canada has said that it will leave no community behind. To date, we have delivered over 550 PPE orders and equipment into communities, ones that come principally on demand from th

COVID-19 Pandemic  Madam Chair, indeed, $15 million of the community support fund was reserved for urban indigenous initiatives. The initial set of funding was intended to go out to first nations, Inuit and Métis in the most expeditious manner that we have at Indigenous Services Canada. We have the

Indigenous Affairs  Mr. Speaker, we recognize that despite historic investments in housing, there are deeply concerning conditions of housing infrastructure that many indigenous communities face. We are continuing to work toward a long-term solution. In light of COVID-19, we are exploring all optio

Indigenous Affairs  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member opposite for attending the technical briefing this morning with my staff. The funding announced yesterday as part of the budget 2019 emergency investments is a start that enables us to take immediate action in communities to reduce the risk

Indigenous Affairs  Mr. Speaker, I will remind the member opposite that in budget 2019, way before the coronavirus broke out, we invested $79 million over five years to improve and prepare support for health emergencies and health-related impacts of natural disasters and health disasters on reserves

Health  Mr. Speaker, as the Minister of Indigenous Services, I can confirm that I am on the committee. I will reassure the member opposite that regional offices are working with first nations leadership and communities on awareness. To assure that necessary resources are in place, we a

Indigenous Affairs  Mr. Speaker, my deepest condolences go out to the family and the entire community of Garden Hill First Nation for their loss. My department has been in contact with the first nation's leadership to identify and deliver support to ensure the well-being of the community. We under

Indigenous Affairs  Mr. Speaker, the answer is no. We have always been focused on finding a peaceful, lasting resolution and on establishing trust and respect among everyone involved.

Indigenous Affairs  Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for her question. We are still available to meet any time with the hereditary chiefs in British Columbia. Now more than ever, we can agree that dialogue should remain open. To tackle possible solutions, as the member proposed, we need to have tha

Indigenous Affairs  Mr. Speaker, I would remind the member that Wet'suwet'en hereditary leadership are on their way to Tyendinaga to discuss these important issues in the next few days. There is a clear plan of action for de-escalation, but that involves dialogue. To all Canadians out there suffer

Indigenous Affairs  Mr. Speaker, I think we can all be heartened by the development that has happened in B.C. that the RCMP has extended to hereditary chiefs. It is an opportunity to sit down and continue that dialogue. This is a positive development. The move of the Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs

Indigenous Affairs  Mr. Speaker, everyone pretends to know what the requests are. We cannot know what those requests are unless we actually ask the people. Is it not a question of looking at the banners on the street. It is actually talking to the leadership in question and that is precisely what we

Indigenous Affairs  Mr. Speaker, I thank the member opposite for his question. As everyone knows, the Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs are now en route to Tyendinaga to pursue a peaceful resolution, which is the solution we are all seeking. That dialogue needs to happen as soon as possible. That is w

Indigenous Affairs  Mr. Speaker, I think I speak for everyone when I say that we all feel encouraged by the new development with the RCMP in British Columbia, which offered the hereditary chiefs an opportunity to sit down and work on a long-term plan that could involve a reduced presence in their te

Relations with Indigenous Peoples  Madam Speaker, I think we all heard the Leader of the Opposition's speech today. It was shameful.