First Nations Clean Water Act  Madam Speaker, trust a Conservative member to blame first nations people for burning down their own water treatment plants and for not being smart enough to be able to understand how to operate those plants. That is the kind of paternalism that led to 105 long-term boil water adv

First Nations Clean Water Act  Madam Speaker, first of all, let me say that I have travelled across this country and visited with first nations people in every province and territory. Universally, the conversation has always started with a deep recognition that water is indeed life, and in fact, water itself h

First Nations Clean Water Act  Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her passion for clean water. I share her dismay that this country, in many ways, has led to discriminatory policy and funding for first nations. In fact, that is why we are here today. Discretionary funding for water safety has been part of

First Nations Clean Water Act  moved that Bill C-61, an act respecting water, source water, drinking water, wastewater and related infrastructure on first nation lands, be read the second time and referred to a committee. Madam Speaker, it is with great privilege that I rise today to speak to Bill C-61, the

Bill C-61 An Act respecting water, source water, drinking water, wastewater and related infrastructure on First Nation lands

Short Title Short title 1 This Act may be cited as the First Nations Clean Water Act . Definitions Definitions 2 The following definitions apply in this Act. First Nation governing body  means a council, government or other entity that is authorized to act on behalf or for the b

Indigenous Affairs  Mr. Speaker, I think all Canadians were so sad to hear about the fire that destroyed the school in Eabametoong. I spoke with Chief Atlookan on Friday night to reiterate to the chief that we will work with the community, not only on fire prevention, with the truck waiting for the

Indigenous Affairs  Mr. Speaker, last week, it was shameful to see the Conservative Party members get up, all night long, to vote against all of the things that indigenous people need, such as health care, education and housing. While the Conservatives play games with people's lives, on this side we

Indigenous Affairs  Mr. Speaker, I have been meeting on a quarterly basis with Neskantaga to solve the current crisis that Neskantaga has been undergoing. Despite the renovation of their plant, the water is still not testing clean. We are working together to make sure that happens. In regard to th

First Nations Clean Water Act  moved for leave to introduce Bill C-61, An Act respecting water, source water, drinking water, wastewater and related infrastructure on First Nation lands. (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

Carbon Pricing  Mr. Speaker, if the Conservatives had wanted to make life easier for first nations people, they would not have voted against so many measures that first nations leaders need and are essential to running good communities, things like education, emergency management, water infrastr

Carbon Pricing  Mr. Speaker, last week, when the Conservatives had the chance to stand up for first nations people, they voted against the measures indigenous communities need every single day to deliver things like clean water, to deliver things like education and to make sure infrastructure is

Indigenous Affairs  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member opposite for his unwavering advocacy for the people of Attawapiskat. I have met extensively with chief and council and many members of Attawapiskat. Indeed, the department is working closely with the community to make sure they have the t

Indigenous Affairs  Madam Speaker, I spent last summer with first nations leaders in community after community evacuating people from the onslaught of incredible wildfires and floods that devastated community infrastructure and that put people out of their homes for months on end. That is the risk o

Indigenous Affairs  Madam Speaker, for a decade, the Conservative government kept people in poverty, refused to invest in infrastructure and refused to support education. Can colleagues believe it? When we were elected in 2015, we made sure there was parity for first nations education so kids could

Indigenous Affairs  Madam Speaker, since we took office in 2015, indigenous spending has increased by 168% in first nations communities. That is no small number. What underlies that number is the ongoing systemic discrimination of the previous Conservative government, which spent nothing in first n