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Results: 1 - 15 of 209
View Bob Bratina Profile
Lib. (ON)
I call this meeting to order with the acknowledgement that in Ottawa we are meeting on the traditional unceded territory of the Algonquin people. Here in Hamilton, we have the Anishinabe and Haudenosaunee. It's often said that we are also on the territory of the Neutrals. That's an incorrect term, as is Attawandaron. It's a descriptive term for the way they speak their language. The name of that nation was Chonnonton.
Having said that, the committee is meeting to consider the supplementary estimates (A), 2021-22.
To ensure an orderly meeting, participants, please make sure that you have the language selected via the interpretation globe at the bottom of your screen. You can change languages back and forth when speaking, but select one to hear the translation.
With us today, virtually, for the first hour are the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, Carolyn Bennett; and the Minister of Northern Affairs, Dan Vandal. They're accompanied by the following senior officials: Paula Isaak, associate deputy minister; Serge Beaudoin, assistant deputy minister; Martin Reiher, assistant deputy minister; Chantal Marin-Comeau, director general; and Annie Boudreau, chief of finances, and also the results and delivery officer.
Is that the whole list? That's quite a long group. I think so, though we're awaiting Deputy Minister Quan-Watson.
With that, let me welcome everybody.
I open up the floor, Minister Bennett, for your opening remarks.
View Jamie Schmale Profile
CPC (ON)
Thank you very much.
Good morning, Ministers. It's great to see you both again.
I'll start with Minister Bennett, if I could. Minister, talking about the $27 million that was released last week, that was previously announced funding to uncover what are believed to be thousands of indigenous children buried in unmarked graves at residential schools across the country.
Minister, why did it take two years to release that money?
View Jamie Schmale Profile
CPC (ON)
What was the delay, the fact that it was announced two years ago and that this previously announced funding all of a sudden was made ready? Was it just a coincidence that it's just all of a sudden made, or what happened?
View Jamie Schmale Profile
CPC (ON)
You understand where I'm coming from here. It was previously announced two years ago and just got finalized, released and ready to go, but it almost seemed like it took that tragedy, that discovery, for the government to finally release the cash.
I'll move on because I do have a number of other questions.
As you know, our leader, Erin O'Toole, wrote to the Prime Minister asking a number of things, four points specifically. The one I want to ask about is the plan to address the TRC calls to action 71 through 76 and to develop a concrete action plan by July 1. Is that something the government is able to commit to?
View Jamie Schmale Profile
CPC (ON)
Can you commit to that action plan—releasing it to the public and to us—that as of July 1 of this year you will have a concrete road map on how you're going to get there?
View Jamie Schmale Profile
CPC (ON)
Well, Minister, prior to the announcement of the $27 million, that previously announced funding of two years ago—sorry to bounce back to that—how much funding has already gone out to communities to assist in investigating unmarked graves across Canada outside of that $27 million?
View Jamie Schmale Profile
CPC (ON)
Minister, as you know, the Tk'emlúps first nation is paying for security and commemorations and other costs associated with the discovery of those graves. They've asked for short-term funding from the government, as I'm sure you know, to assist them with that. Is that something the government is investigating? If yes, has money been provided? If no, is there a timeline on when they might see that?
View Marcus Powlowski Profile
Lib. (ON)
My questions are for Minister Bennett—or perhaps Mr. Quan-Watson can answer.
Murray Sinclair, former senator, in a recent statement relating to the bodies that were found in Kamloops, suggested that churches have documents related to missing and dead children that they haven't disclosed. I've also heard the suggestion that perhaps even the Vatican has such documents. Do we believe that there are such documents out there? What have we done to try to secure those documents?
View Marcus Powlowski Profile
Lib. (ON)
Do we have the legal power now to require the churches to release such documents? If we don't have the legal power, I would suggest that certainly in Parliament we have the ability to give ourselves the legal power to require the churches to hand over those documents. Are there any such plans, or do you think the laws already exist?
View Marcus Powlowski Profile
Lib. (ON)
Just to clarify that: You say that on the previous litigation there was a requirement to disclose documents, and those documents can still be accessed now through that previous litigation? I'm just not sure what the response meant.
View Marcus Powlowski Profile
Lib. (ON)
Minister, we have set aside $27 million for further investigations to see if there are—and, certainly, there will be—other graveyards or bodies found. Can you tell us...? It hasn't been that long since the bodies were discovered in Kamloops, but so far, have other indigenous groups come forward to ask for funding to look for further sites?
View Sylvie Bérubé Profile
BQ (QC)
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I am speaking from the traditional territory of the Algonquin, Anishinaabe and Cree peoples. I am in Val-d'Or, in my riding.
We are all upset by the distressing discovery of these 215 children. In their memory, we must know the truth and help the communities and, most importantly, listen to them.
My question is for Ms. Bennett.
The members of the Kitcisakik community still have no running water or electricity, because they are merely squatting on the land where they live, in the eyes of white society. That is ridiculous, of course, since it is their own land.
Why is the situation not progressing in the Kitcisakik community?
View Sylvie Bérubé Profile
BQ (QC)
Thank you, Minister.
This is important, you know. The Kitcisakik community is invisible to governments. This is often a direct consequence of the appalling living conditions they are currently experiencing. Government support is very important to resolve this situation.
I want to thank you all for being here today.
Last year, I raised the issue of the outdated comprehensive land claims policy. You said that you agreed with me on that subject.
What has your department accomplished to update that policy since March 2020, which is when we had that discussion? Can you answer me?
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