SoVote

Mr. Jamie Schmale (Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, CPC)

Dec/6/23 2:11:35 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, it is with great honour that I welcome the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples to Parliament Hill this week. The Congress of Aboriginal Peoples, or CAP, is one of five national indigenous representative organizations, and it advocates for over 800,000 Métis, status, non-status and southern Inuit indigenous people living off reserve in Canada. CAP National Chief Elmer St. Pierre emphasizes the pressing need for reconciliation to translate into action, as critical issues affecting indigenous peoples off reserve are often overlooked. CAP's dedication to raising concerns, from housing to missing and murdered indigenous women and girls, health care and the overincarceration of indigenous individuals, underscores the gravity of the challenges indigenous peoples face daily. The reminder that the government must ensure equal opportunities and access to programs for all indigenous peoples is a call for justice and inclusivity. After over five decades of advocacy, CAP remains steadfast in its commitment to indigenous people and their needs. I welcome CAP to Parliament Hill.

167 words

Context: House Hansard - 263 - Dec/6/23

Ms. Lori Idlout (Nunavut, NDP)

Dec/6/23 2:37:05 p.m.
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Uqaqtittiji, indigenous women and their children are forced to live in violent situations because of the lack of adequate housing. The Liberals are actively keeping indigenous people marginalized by delaying the release of housing investments promised. The NDP fought to secure $4 billion to help build homes indigenous people need, but the Liberals keep delaying these investments, keeping indigenous people out in the cold. When will the government help indigenous communities get the homes they so desperately need?

78 words

Context: House Hansard - 263 - Dec/6/23

Right Hon. Justin Trudeau (Prime Minister, Lib.)

Dec/6/23 2:37:44 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we are taking action to address housing gaps in indigenous communities swiftly, effectively and in equal partnership. Budget 2023 included an additional investment of $4 billion in the indigenous housing strategy on top of the $6.7 billion since 2015. In fact, since 2016, we have supported the construction and renovation of over 30,000 homes in first nations communities, and we continue to work with first nations partners to co-develop a 10-year housing infrastructure strategy. We will continue working with first nations, Inuit and Métis, along with all levels of government, to co-develop and implement community-based housing solutions because they are desperately needed.

112 words

Context: House Hansard - 263 - Dec/6/23

Ms. Niki Ashton (Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, NDP)

Dec/6/23 3:17:51 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, this past summer was the worst wildfire season in Canada's history. Indigenous communities are on the front lines of the climate crisis and are disproportionately paying the price, yet Liberals are investing less than a third of all emergency preparedness money in prevention, choosing to be reactive. First nations like Bloodvein River First Nation, which has been evacuated because of wildfires, does not have a fire truck to this day. The AFN is asking for $30 billion in mitigation. The Liberals' spending on mitigation is a drop in the bucket. Why are the Liberals pretending this reality is acceptable for first nations and indigenous communities facing the climate crisis?

112 words

Context: House Hansard - 263 - Dec/6/23

Hon. Harjit S. Sajjan (President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada, Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada, Lib.)

Dec/6/23 3:18:38 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, our nation has been dealing with significant wildfire seasons because of climate change, and it is impacting the most vulnerable, especially when it comes to our indigenous communities. Every time I have gone to visit the disaster-affected areas, I do meet with the indigenous communities. One of the things that we are looking at is making sure that we use their knowledge, in terms of the mitigation, and making sure that we have the appropriate response force. We are going to get this right by making sure that the indigenous have the support to actually support us in our wildfire response.

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