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Results: 91 - 105 of 447
View Sylvie Bérubé Profile
BQ (QC)
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I am speaking from my office in Val-d'Or, which is on the traditional territory of the Algonquin, Cree and Anishinaabe peoples.
I thank the minister and all the witnesses for being here today.
My question is for Mr. Miller.
In the 2019 budget, the government had announced a figure of $33.8 million over three years to implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's calls to action 72 to 78. The Prime Minister and yourself have reiterated that the government has invested that money.
Do you agree with me that a budget statement is worthless if Parliament does not authorize the proposed spending, yes or no?
View Marc Miller Profile
Lib. (QC)
I agree with you on one thing: I am making no excuses for the late deployment of those funds. As you know, supporting communities in their grief and when searches are necessary is a hugely delicate process. It is very intrusive and traumatizing, and it is understandable that it can take time to get answers.
The indigenous peoples want answers, and the message I have for them today is this: in addition to the $27 million that was approved by Treasury Board, Canada will be here for all communities that want to conduct searches. They are the ones who will set the tone. We cannot do it without their completely informed consent, given the sensitive nature of the process.
Protocols have to be established and I don't think the communities have pre-established protocols for this kind of atrocity, and that is why we have to give them space and time. However, that must not be interpreted as an excuse for not spending this money. If the communities need additional support or the expertise of the Government of Canada, we will be here for them.
View Sylvie Bérubé Profile
BQ (QC)
Yesterday, in response to a journalist who asked you about the $27 million, you replied:
The money was announced in the 2019 budget, and, if I am not mistaken, it passed Treasury Board very recently, so the money is available. Regarding the appropriation ..., I could do the research for you, but I assure you that it is available.
So can you tell me whether that money actually appears, in whole or in part, in the supplementary estimates (A) that we are examining today?
Philippe Thompson
View Philippe Thompson Profile
Philippe Thompson
2021-06-10 12:49
From what I understand, the $27 million is in the supplementary estimates (A) of our colleagues at Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs. That money is therefore not part of the supplementary estimates (A) that are under consideration today.
View Sylvie Bérubé Profile
BQ (QC)
When we examine the public accounts of Canada for 2019 to 2020 and the main estimates for the three years after the 2019 budget, we see that this money was not included in the budget, except for the $3.2 million that appeared in the 2020-2021 supplementary estimates (B).
Can you explain what became of the rest of the $33.8 million?
View Marc Miller Profile
Lib. (QC)
That falls under Ms. Bennett's mandate, in particular.
I may be corrected on the precise amounts, but it is money that was paid to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. I may be wrong and that may have to be corrected afterward. Mr. Thompson may want to correct me.
Philippe Thompson
View Philippe Thompson Profile
Philippe Thompson
2021-06-10 12:50
That is also what I understand, that these funds are not part of the department's reference level. Unfortunately, I can't offer you any more information about that money.
View Sylvie Bérubé Profile
BQ (QC)
Do you agree with me that, in reality, the money announced in the 2019 budget was essentially never spent by Parliament, that it was not authorized in the form of appropriations?
Can you explain that for me, please?
Philippe Thompson
View Philippe Thompson Profile
Philippe Thompson
2021-06-10 12:51
If the money was not paid to the department, we could not spend it. Unfortunately, I am not able to speak to the amounts that were approved in the budget but that were not part of the Department of Indigenous Services' reference levels.
It is hard for me to give a more detailed answer.
Philippe Thompson
View Philippe Thompson Profile
Philippe Thompson
2021-06-10 12:51
I can't tell you that exactly.
As I said, if the money was intended for the Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs, it is that department's budget process that was involved and we have no role to play in it. My colleagues at the Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs might be able to give you more details about how that money was used, and whether or not it was spent.
View Sylvie Bérubé Profile
BQ (QC)
In December, I received the answer to one of my written questions concerning the implementation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's calls to action 81 and 82.
In its answer, the government told us that only 0.5% full-time equivalent position was assigned to implementing call to action 82, which, we will recall, involves building a monument to the memory of the victims of indigenous residential schools, in Ottawa.
I will ask the question again that I asked the other day. Do you not think that this is insufficient for implementing that call to action?
View Marc Miller Profile
Lib. (QC)
Once again, that falls within the mandate of the Department of Canadian Heritage or the Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs.
Obviously, we all want things to go faster, given the events of recent weeks.
View Mumilaaq Qaqqaq Profile
NDP (NU)
View Mumilaaq Qaqqaq Profile
2021-06-10 12:53
Thank you, Chair.
The budget allocates $25 million to Nunavut for housing construction. This would result in the construction of only 100 new homes across the massive territory. The Government of Nunavut has said that the territory needs 3,000 new houses immediately. In about 30 seconds, can you give me the rationale for this low figure?
View Marc Miller Profile
Lib. (QC)
Yes, and thanks, MP Qaqqaq. I want to thank you for your advocacy for your people.
I think we are currently in discussions with ITK regarding their infrastructure needs. Housing will be a huge amount of that. That's part of the $6 billion that was announced in budget 2021, so that number you quoted is only a small part of the discussion that's ongoing, and I believe there will be positive news in the near future, as there needs to be, absolutely.
Results: 91 - 105 of 447 | Page: 7 of 30

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