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Results: 1 - 15 of 229
View Eric Melillo Profile
CPC (ON)
View Eric Melillo Profile
2021-06-15 12:47
No problem. Thank you.
I'm just wondering if you're able to touch a bit on what the government could do better to help ensure that we are more preventative, more proactive, in ensuring that people do not find themselves in the vulnerable situations that have led to human trafficking, to sex trafficking. What can we do in terms of programming and supports? Where can we fix those gaps to intervene [Technical difficulty—Editor]
Bryanna R. Brown
View Bryanna R. Brown Profile
Bryanna R. Brown
2021-06-15 12:48
I think it's really important to have indigenous-led direction when creating healing programs for survivors of human trafficking or having anti-human trafficking programs.
I am also on the Indigenous Climate Action National Steering Committee, and I have noticed climate change, the extraction and exploitation of land and natural resources. I have been thinking of how that relates to the exploitation of indigenous peoples, especially indigenous women, and environmental injustice and environmental racism and how that causes displacement of indigenous peoples from their communities, and how that causes further culture shock when having to be removed from their indigenous communities to a more non-indigenous community, and being in that culture shock and not having access to traditional food, their traditional territory.
I think having access to land is extremely important. I notice that it seems to be more effective when we have more culturally relevant resources available to clients that are provided by indigenous peoples and Black people, and people of colour as well.
I have created programs and workshops and presentations to bring awareness to the issue of human trafficking, and provided consultation to hospitals and anti-human trafficking organizations to provide input on the survivor leadership and healing programs. I have noticed that there's a large demand for these presentations and bringing more awareness to these issues.
Thank you.
View Jamie Schmale Profile
CPC (ON)
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
I want to pick up where we left off. A lot of the conversation does involve funding. In previous studies, this committee touched on precursors for such things as self-government, financial stability through the potential ability for taxation, revenue generation, and those types of things.
We have heard from witnesses who have mentioned that indigenous policing is—as we heard from testimony here today—rooted in self-determination, greater autonomy, self-governance and that kind of thing.
Again, I will open up the floor, which seems to be a common theme here, and a good one, because we hear from everyone who wants to provide feedback.
I guess there are two parts to this question. First, what consultation, if any, has been done with indigenous communities in the last seven months to move that potential forward? Second, in your opinion, what steps are needed and what more needs to be done in order to implement the legal framework to recognize indigenous policing as an essential service?
Reginald Bellerose
View Reginald Bellerose Profile
Reginald Bellerose
2021-05-13 12:51
We have had community meetings. People have come in. I will best answer it this way: There's a high level of fear.
In our community, people never even used to lock their doors. The keys were in the cars. After the shootings and these activities, now people are taking their keys out. They are locking their doors. That's a big shift at the community level. The people who give direction have to do something better.
That consultation.... But it's not specific. I will best answer that by saying, “We want to feel safer.”
View Carolyn Bennett Profile
Lib. (ON)
Okay, thank you.
I am speaking to you today from the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. I wish to honour the waters they paddled and their moccasins which walked these lands.
It is my pleasure to appear at this committee to discuss Bill C-15. I am joined today by two officials from the Implementation Sector: Ross Pattee, Assistant Deputy Minister, and Marla Israel, Director General of the Policy, Planning and Coordination Branch.
I would also like to take this opportunity to recognize the leadership of former member of Parliament Romeo Saganash on developing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (the “Declaration”) and on legislating a framework to implement it here in Canada and I thank him for Bill C-262, which served as the foundation for Bill C-15.
The declaration is of critical importance to indigenous peoples across Canada, including the indigenous leaders who participated directly in its development.
The declaration is the result of decades of tireless effort, negotiations and sustained advocacy within the United Nations system, including by inspiring indigenous leaders like Dr. Wilton Littlechild, who you heard from last week. As Dr. Littlechild recently told me, all together, C-15 is a reconciliation call for justice and respect through implementation of solutions-based international treaties.
I believe that implementing the declaration here in Canada is essential to advancing reconciliation with indigenous peoples. This has been made clear by both the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, after six years of hearings, and the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, after three years of listening to families and survivors.
The TRC said that the declaration charts a path for reconciliation to flourish in 21st century Canada. The inquiry's calls for justice also call on governments to immediately implement and fully comply with the declaration.
The introduction of C-15 fulfills our government's commitment to introduce legislation to implement the declaration, establishing Bill C-262 as the floor, rather than the ceiling.
Prior to the bill's introduction, 33 bilateral sessions took place with AFN, ITK and MNC. In addition, more than 450 people participated in 28 regional engagement sessions, providing feedback and advice on potential enhancements to the consultation draft. Provincial and territorial governments, experts and industry stakeholders also informed the development of the bill.
While we acknowledge that some would have preferred a longer engagement, it was inclusive and meaningful. The current bill reflects the content requested by many indigenous partners.
Extensive meetings were also held with indigenous partners and other stakeholders after its introduction, to explain the bill's content and work on further enhancements. As Minister Lametti has noted, engagement post introduction informed some further amendments, which the government will be supporting.
Co-development of the action plan will be a further opportunity to work in close partnership on implementation.
We have already begun preliminary discussions with indigenous partners on the design of that process. Yesterday's budget 2021 proposes to provide $31.5 million over two years to support its co-development.
Recognizing and respecting indigenous rights mean that indigenous peoples are at the table for decisions that impact their rights. In many cases, it means that economic development and stronger economic outcomes will be advanced with indigenous peoples as partners.
The declaration is broader than economic development. I'm so grateful for my conversation with Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, who you also heard from last week, on her findings about racism in health care and her report, “In Plain Sight”. She was very clear about article 24 of the declaration, which states:
Indigenous individuals have an equal right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. States shall take the necessary steps with a view to achieving progressively the full realization of this right.
This will be very important in guiding the future legislation on indigenous health.
I also remember how important it was, during the summit on child welfare, to underline Article 7 of the declaration, which details the collective and individual rights to live free from violence, including “forcibly removing children”.
The declaration allows us all to develop a clear path so everyone can work together as partners with a shared stake in Canada's future.
As I said before, implementing the declaration is nothing to be frightened of. What is needed is fundamental and foundational change. It's about shedding our colonial past and writing the next chapter together, as partners with indigenous peoples.
It has been more than 13 years since the declaration was adopted by the General Assembly. I urge all members to support this fundamental and necessary change and support this bill.
Thank you. Meegwetch. Nakurmiik. Marsi.
View Jaime Battiste Profile
Lib. (NS)
Thank you, Minister.
We heard from MNC's president, David Chartrand, who said that Bill C-15 is, as he called it, a “blueprint for clarity”. I know that Assembly of First Nations National Chief Perry Bellegarde has talked about the need to see this get to royal assent. I'm wondering if you could elaborate a bit on the bilateral sessions and how our government worked with the constitutional voices in Canada to ensure that we were hearing from them as well.
Daniel Quan-Watson
View Daniel Quan-Watson Profile
Daniel Quan-Watson
2021-04-20 11:43
Chair, I could maybe offer a bit of completion of that.
We've had over 70 different meetings and a number of experts from across the country engaged on multiple fronts, including, as the minister noted, Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond and many others. It includes conferences and sessions that we've run. One of the more interesting ones was with a large number of indigenous law students from across the country.
Expertise, I think, is defined in many ways. There are those who have spent many years and a long time in the books, but there are those whose lives have been changed by their passion to change this for future generations. They have been involved too.
View Leah Gazan Profile
NDP (MB)
Thank you so much, Chair.
I guess I'll ask this of Madam Sargent.
Concerns have been raised about the lack of consultation with individual indigenous rights holders. Moving forward, certainly in the action plan, how does your department plan to consult with indigenous people and peoples on the ground?
Laurie Sargent
View Laurie Sargent Profile
Laurie Sargent
2021-04-20 12:37
It is certainly something we are mindful of and reflecting on in light of the experience leading up to the introduction of Bill C-15. We recognized that the legislation had undergone a great deal of engagement already and that there was some urgency to bringing it forward. Therefore, the engagement process was shorter than many would have liked.
That said, moving forward, with respect to the action plan, we are absolutely wanting to engage more broadly. On that, I'd be pleased to turn it over to my colleague, Ross Pattee, who's also thinking about this through the lens of the work that Crown-Indigenous Relations does in engaging with indigenous peoples. We see it as a joint project going forward.
With the permission of the chair, I'd like to pass the question over to Ross for some further response.
Ross Pattee
View Ross Pattee Profile
Ross Pattee
2021-04-20 12:38
Of course, we are already engaged right now in moving forward. As you heard from the minister, the budget yesterday allotted over $31 million for consultation and engagement with a variety of people who have an interest in this legislation as it moves forward.
Our plan is quite comprehensive and extensive, and it will involve all indigenous partners, rights holders, industry and individual indigenous rights. It's going to be very important that we complete that process so that we come up with the best action plan possible.
View Leah Gazan Profile
NDP (MB)
You mentioned the $31 million. Have any decisions been made about how that funding will be allocated? Who's going to control that allocation of funding for consultations?
Ross Pattee
View Ross Pattee Profile
Ross Pattee
2021-04-20 12:39
I only learned that it was approved and put forward at about 4:30 yesterday, so the answer to your question is that no decisions have been made yet.
What I can tell you, based on my previous answer, is that it's going to be important that we use that money effectively to ensure that everyone's voice is heard and that we all work together on a collaborative action plan as we move forward.
View Eric Melillo Profile
CPC (ON)
View Eric Melillo Profile
2021-04-20 12:44
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I thank our witnesses for joining us for this discussion.
I'm not going to address my question to anyone specifically. Whoever wants to jump in, please do so.
One thing that has interested me is that we've heard a lot from indigenous people and organizations who don't feel there has been adequate consultation on Bill C-15. We've even heard testimony in this committee from some indigenous organizations.... The Native Women's Association comes to mind. This is a group that had expressed concerns about the consultation process. I find it quite ironic that when we talk about Bill C-15, obviously the government has been emphasizing that it is brought forward in the spirit of reconciliation. However, there seem to be some gaps and some failures of adequate consultation with indigenous peoples.
To me, this runs contrary to what the government is trying to do. I do not doubt for a second the intentions of this bill; however, it seems that the government has missed the mark.
Again, whoever wants to jump in may. I'm wondering whether anyone can share some insights into the consultation process that has happened for Bill C-15 and say whether you believe there could have been a greater diversity of indigenous organizations represented in this consultation.
Ross Pattee
View Ross Pattee Profile
Ross Pattee
2021-04-20 12:46
As we've heard and as you've heard, the time frame to meet the commitment to introduce this bill by the end of the calendar year was indeed tight. Having said that, over 70 meetings involving more than 450 people took place in this compressed time frame. I've said before that it's not really the quantity of engagement; it's the quality of the engagement that matters. As Minister Bennett noted, many of those discussions resulted in improvements to the bill as introduced.
I'd like to relate this quickly to the question from the previous member, which was around the going forward plan. Part of the reason the budget has allotted more than $31 million is to make sure we have a more robust engagement strategy going forward. We're working on that right now, and we've already begun discussions with a number of key players. There will be opportunities for many interested parties to have a say in that plan and the action plan as we move forward.
Thank you.
Laurie Sargent
View Laurie Sargent Profile
Laurie Sargent
2021-04-20 12:47
Perhaps I would just add a couple of considerations, if I may. As you may well be aware, there is a “What We Learned” report available on the Department of Justice's UN declaration website. It speaks to the engagement that took place. It very much shows, as Ross said, the level and the quality of input that we received, even though the period was relatively compressed.
I will note that contributions from groups including the National Women's Association of Canada, NWAC, very much influenced the bill as it is currently drafted, including the preambular paragraphs relating to the importance of taking diversity and gender into account in implementing this legislation.
Thanks.
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