SoVote

Context: House Hansard - 292 - Mar/20/24

Mr. Damien Kurek (Battle River—Crowfoot, CPC)

Mar/20/24 5:17:25 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-29

Madam Speaker, it is disappointing that the Liberals would impose time allocation on this. One of the real challenges that has been highlighted time and time again in Bill C-29 is that the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples, although acknowledged as a national indigenous organization, has been left out of the proposed council. The organization has been very vocal about the disappointment in that regard. While there have been continual calls to ensure that the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples is included in the council and the conversations surrounding Bill C-29, that organization has been specifically excluded. This means that many indigenous peoples across Canada, who are not necessarily represented by the other organizations that will have a seat at the table, are excluded. To the minister, very specifically: Why has the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples been excluded?

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Context: House Hansard - 292 - Mar/20/24

Hon. Gary Anandasangaree

Mar/20/24 5:18:32 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, this issue has come forward. The Congress of Aboriginal Peoples had a chance to make submissions at the Senate and the House of Commons parliamentary committees. An amendment to add it on as one of the members of the council, or to have a delegate from the organization, was considered by way of amendment. It was rejected. We are at a point right now where the final amendments put forward by the Senate are acceptable to the government, and we are recommending acceptance and passage. Therefore, I do not want to relitigate an issue that has already been considered in almost 60 hours of debate over 44 days.

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Context: House Hansard - 292 - Mar/20/24

Mr. Damien Kurek

Mar/20/24 5:25:15 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I would like to circle back, if I could, to the exclusion of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples. What is very disappointing from the minister's answer is he does not want to relitigate, which was his word, this concern, when according to Statistics Canada there are about 800,000, almost a million, indigenous people across Canada who would not be represented by the organizations on the council. With due respect to the minister, with regard to the 800,000 Canadians not represented by those on the council, does he suggest that it is not worth continuing the Conservative fight, at the very least, to ensure that those voices are included on the council for reconciliation?

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Context: House Hansard - 292 - Mar/20/24

Mr. Damien Kurek

Mar/20/24 5:35:27 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I am curious how the conversation has evolved from that minister over the course of this debate, and he suggested that, while all parties, including the Liberals at committee, voted to ensure that this council would be as inclusive of all indigenous voices as possible, the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples should simply follow their process. However, and this is very interesting, he says that their loyalty will not be to their organizations but to the board. I am concerned with the evolution of the language that has taken place over this half hour, which is exactly the reason a fulsome debate is required in this place. I would certainly call into question the suggestion that the Liberals have somehow settled all outstanding issues on the bill when, clearly, they do not have all the questions answered.

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