Hon. Jean-Guy Dagenais: Minister, last June, we learned that the board of directors of the Assembly of First Nations suspended National Chief RoseAnne Archibald. Their reason for doing so is concerning. She was suspended for wanting to investigate what she believed to be corruption and collusion in the awarding of contracts. She also spoke out against four employees being paid nearly $1 million after the contract was awarded.

I’ve often found that your government hasn’t been very focused on accountability for tax dollars paid to assist First Nations people. Having said that, given that the chief’s allegations about the use of funds are extremely serious, I’d like to know whether, as the minister responsible, you have taken concrete action to uncover the truth. If so, what actions have you taken? I would remind you that Ms. Archibald called for an independent inquiry.

Hon. Jean-Guy Dagenais: Minister, on June 7, 2022, at a meeting of the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance, of which I am a member, I asked one of the senior officials from Indigenous Services Canada about the use of a $2.1-billion allocation for families and children under Jordan’s Principle. Philippe Thompson revealed at the time that your government had begun negotiations to award a contract to a third party to administer our tax dollars which have been allocated to Indigenous communities, but he refused to tell us who these negotiations were with.

As the minister responsible, can you tell us to whom this contract has been awarded or to whom it will be awarded? How much will it cost Canadians to have a third party administer this $2.1 billion? Finally, could you tell us what percentage of that money will go to these unnamed administrators rather than to Indigenous children?