Oral Questions
Uqaqtittiji, March 31 will be National Indigenous Languages Day. Our government acknowledges that indigenous languages must be celebrated and supported. We have more great news. The additional $17.2 million towards national Aboriginal broadcasting will go a long way. More indigenous peoples will preserve their cultures by showcasing their stories. Could the Minister of Canadian Identity and Cultur…
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Uqaqtittiji, I am proud to join a team that will take the larger picture of meeting the current political environment and that is set on meeting the immediate needs of the north. Northerners know that food security is about more than getting food on the shelves. It is about addressing the cost of living, local capacity and true food sovereignty. Can my colleague, the Minister of Northern and Arcti…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Uqaqtittiji, I am rising on behalf of 69 petitioners who are seeking attention on pay equity. They have found that the office of the pay equity commissioner reported in 2024 that women earn 87¢ for every dollar earned by men and that this gap is even larger for Black, indigenous and racialized women, and disabled women. The governments of Yukon, NWT and Nunavut continue to be exempt from the Pay E…
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Uqaqtittiji, I thank the minister for her important presentation. Does the minister support the amendments that were made by the Senate committee on this study? They made very important amendments that would help to equalize first nations rights so that they are on par with Canadians' rights.
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Uqaqtittiji, I will remind the member that those kinds of questions should have been asked when they were expediting Bill C-5. They did not take into consideration that there had been different solutions and different things requested by different first nations, Métis and Inuit, yet they were able to expedite the passing of Bill C-5. If they were able to do that with that bill, they should be able…
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Uqaqtittiji, I did not hear a favourable answer, unfortunately, and I think our fight will end up being that we make sure that those Senate amendments are included in Bill S-2, particularly because, for example, in Bill C-38, there was a provision where first nations who had experienced discrimination would have been disallowed from seeking restitution. The Senate amendments to Bill S-2 propose to…
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Uqaqtittiji, that is an important question. It is definitely very obvious that the federal government has used its colonial efforts to divide and conquer indigenous peoples, be them first nations, Métis or Inuit, and we need to make sure that, as indigenous peoples, we stand in solidarity to make sure that these injustices, such as the second-generation cut-off, are addressed.
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Uqaqtittiji, very quickly, could the member share with us whether the Conservatives will support the amendments that were made by the Senate?
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Uqaqtittiji, I would like to thank the minister for sharing her time with me on this important bill, Bill S-2, to amend the Indian Act. Bill C-38, from the last Parliament, was a bill that I could not support at the time because of the inequities that first nations would continue to have. However, the NDP supports the Senate amendments to Bill S-2 and hopes that the bill will pass quickly. It is a…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Uqaqtittiji, I agree with the line of questioning of the member. It does not go far enough. First nations need to achieve their inherent jurisdiction over citizenship and membership. That dialogue needs to go further, and making sure we have swift passage of Bill S-2, with the Senate amendments, would help push that agenda forward.
Read full speech →Private Members' Business
Uqaqtittiji, I am very pleased to represent Nunavut in supporting Bill S-228. First, I would like to thank the very strong people, who may or may not be in this room, who are sharing their strength with us today: Jackie, Sylvia, Heather, Germaine, Chasity, Nicole, Lois, Nilak, Susan, Harmony, staff and volunteers. I also thank the MP for Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes, and I thank Senator Boyer for her…
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Uqaqtittiji, I agree with the member in that amendments were needed, and they continue to be needed. I wonder if he can express whether the Conservatives will support the amendments that were tabled by the MP for Saanich—Gulf Islands.
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Uqaqtittiji, I am very pleased to speak to the bill, and I am also very pleased to have seconded the amendments submitted by the MP for Saanich—Gulf Islands, because I believe we share values. The bill required so much work, and her amendments can address so many of the flaws in the current iteration of Bill C-14. I thank the Criminal Lawyers' Association for its work. In a submission it made, it …
Read full speech →Government Orders
Uqaqtittiji, the fact that the member has stated that the government has not had data to develop the bill confirms what I have been saying: The bill was not based on evidence. I agree that we need to make sure we have better prevention programs. The best way to do that is to make sure we do not keep more people in jail, which the bill intends to. That is what we need to focus on. As the Criminal L…
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Uqaqtittiji, the first nations caring society created Have a Heart Day. I attended an event held at the Meridian Theatres at Centrepointe. There were about 15 schools with around 700 students at this beautiful event. Originally started in 2012, this campaign has students write letters to the Prime Minister regarding injustices towards indigenous peoples. Will the Prime Minister honour these calls …
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Uqaqtittiji, the sensationalism that the media shares is creating fear that is not necessary, and the focus needs to be on addressing violent offenders. I hope that with the way the bill is, it would not be overgeneralizing the people who would be most impacted. We have heard that bail works right now and that people who are violent offenders are kept in, and that is what the target needs to be of…
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Uqaqtittiji, the bill required so much work that it was hard to support it right away. I very much appreciate the amendments that were tabled by the MP for Saanich—Gulf Islands.
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Uqaqtittiji, in Canada we have several means of protecting civil liberties, whether it be law enforcement, the Canadian Armed Forces or other mechanisms. In that same line of thinking, indigenous people deserve just as much protection as all Canadians. I wonder if the member agrees that the more that we have to ensure that there is implementation of important contracts like the modern treaties, th…
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Uqaqtittiji, before the election, the Liberals planned to cut the Inuit child first initiative. When Inuit heard this, they spoke up by the thousands. Under pressure from Nunavut, the Liberals promised to extend the program. Since being elected, the Minister of Indigenous Services promised an announcement on the ICFI. Nine months later, far too many Inuit children are still being kept below the po…
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Uqaqtittiji, I completely agree that this is such an important act of reconciliation. I wonder if the member agrees that reconciliation not only happens through government but has to be an effort by everyone who can help ensure that indigenous peoples have a better sense of well-being. I wonder if the member agrees that with the Conservatives being opposed to this bill, it also shows they are not …
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Uqaqtittiji, the state of emergency in Cross Lake Pimicikamak is now over 40 days old. The army came, made recommendations and left, and where is the federal government? It is still brainstorming solutions. Meanwhile, evacuees remain stranded in cities without adequate supports. When will Ottawa move past talking points and, at a minimum, implement the army's recommendations and uphold their const…
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Uqaqtittiji, in Rankin Inlet, the NDP caucus heard from one Inuk who shared that he has waited for 11 years for a house. There are 17 people living in his two-bedroom unit. His story is all too common in Nunavut. The government is acting on what I have told it. Nunavut will receive 50 more homes added to the 700 originally promised in the budget. This is a good start. Will the minister keep workin…
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Uqaqtittiji, successive Liberal and Conservative governments have bungled fighter jet procurement for decades. Now, with Donald Trump threatening Canada's sovereignty and our NATO allies, New Democrats call on the Prime Minister to cancel all F-35 contracts and commit to purchasing the Swedish Saab Gripen. The Prime Minister promised to make Canada less reliant on the American military. Will the P…
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Uqaqtittiji, the Quw’utsun Nation aboriginal title case is an important decision affirming first nations' rights. Let us be clear: This decision is not about taking land from private owners. The federal government must focus its efforts on reconciliation and the honour of the Crown. Will the minister convene negotiations with all affected parties to ensure an orderly transition toward respecting t…
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Uqaqtittiji, Nunavut's fishery is an underdeveloped economic engine, as QIA keeps saying. As a result of Liberal decisions, B.C. and Newfoundland hold more than an 80% interest in their coastal fisheries, but Nunavut gets only half. Fisheries infrastructure, like the deep-sea port in Qikiqtarjuaq, is left unfinished. Will the Liberals finally treat Inuit like a full economic partner, so they can b…
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Uqaqtittiji, options for housing in Nunavut are limited. Mould leads to chronic illness, and overcrowding leads to abuse of women already in unsafe conditions. There are 3,700 families on the waiting list, according to Nunavut Housing Corporation. Once these houses are built, it will cost over $3 billion to maintain them. This government has only promised 700 new homes. Why are the Liberals not fu…
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Uqaqtittiji, living downstream from the oil sands, the Mikisew Cree First Nation has higher rates of cancer, yet the government is developing regulations to allow affected water to be released into the Athabasca River. UNDRIP and the environmental racism act must be implemented to protect the health of first nations. How can the Liberals proceed with regulations knowing that the Mikisew Cree First…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Uqaqtittiji, I do not think the member understood my question, so I will ask it again. I was asking about how to resolve disputes. Currently, there is no other mechanism to resolve disputes between modern treaties and the federal government. The only system is through the courts. I wonder if the member agrees that a better way to resolve disputes between the federal government and the first modern…
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Uqaqtittiji, Bill C-10 is a reproduction of Bill C-77, which was originally tabled in the last Parliament. As we did at that time, we support this bill in its current form, as it is a reproduction. I would like to thank, first of all, Aluki Kotierk, who was the former president of Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated. She worked hard to ensure this bill would be introduced to help make sure that modern …
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Uqaqtittiji, this summer a cargo ship went aground in the Franklin Strait, a rare occurrence. With climate change, the Northwest Passage has become more accessible. Nunavut relies heavily on shipped diesel, and the risk of damaging the pristine waters is increasing. Mapping the sea floor would ensure more predictable navigation. Will the minister commit to funding Arctic bathymetry as a multi-use …
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Uqaqtittiji, I wonder if the member can share with us how the Conservatives were protecting the rights of indigenous peoples when they worked with the Liberals to help expedite the passing of Bill C-5.
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Uqaqtittiji, other than the concern about increasing bureaucracy, I do not hear any real concerns from the Conservatives about what the problems with Bill C-10 are. Currently, the only way to make sure that the implementation of modern treaties is resolved is through court cases. I wonder if the member agrees that having a commissioner to monitor the implementation of legal treaties is a much bett…
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Uqaqtittiji, there would be no delegation to the commissioner regarding that. I do hope the member educates himself in a better way, to make sure that the commissioner and the office of the commissioner would investigate, would analyze, and would look at what is being implemented by the federal government, whose sole responsibility is to ensure that the honour of the Crown is being met by all gove…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Uqaqtittiji, I share my sense of friendship with the MP as well. What we have seen from the Liberal government, for example in working with the Conservatives on expediting Bill C-5, is that there are real concerns that any government will continue to violate the rights of indigenous peoples, including the right to free, prior and informed consent. We saw that most recently with the Prime Minister'…
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Uqaqtittiji, I would like to ask the member about how important it is that this issue be a non-partisan issue, especially given that organizations like the Land Claims Agreements Coalition have been working hard for 20 years to make sure this bill is introduced, because it would, for example, honour UNDRIP and implement a portion of UNDRIP for indigenous peoples. Taking a non-partisan approach to …
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Uqaqtittiji, I wonder what the member has to say to the over 130 indigenous groups that helped co-develop this bill in its original form, Bill C-77, of which Bill C-10 is a carbon copy. What does she say to them about the hard work they did to ensure that Bill C-10 could reach the stage that it is at? Indigenous groups have been asking for the role of the commissioner to be created so they can see…
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Uqaqtittiji, I am just as disgusted with the Liberal parliamentary secretary and agree about the hypocrisy of the Liberals' so-called mandate for reconciliation, which we know is not sincere. I wonder if the member agrees that because we have an important role in the Auditor General, which does make sure that there are audits going on with government operations, maybe we need the role of the commi…
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Uqaqtittiji, Bill C-10 is particularly important, because both Liberals and Conservatives, having been governing parties, have not fully implemented their obligations to treaty implementation. We need someone outside the Auditor General's office for that. The Auditor General does important work to make sure that operations are being held accountable, yet their work is only focused on what can be s…
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Uqaqtittiji, I first met the member when I was in law school, and I have always admired his work and his reflections on indigenous issues as well. I want to highlight, though, that the member mentioned there are no cuts to social services. I wonder if this is an oversight on his part, because there are important cuts being made to indigenous programs like the Inuit child first initiative and Jorda…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Uqaqtittiji, I am honoured to rise on behalf of 42 petitioners calling for the reinstatement of the Inuit child first initiative program, which was also called the hamlet food voucher program. We all know that poverty is a major issue in Nunavut, where 57% of the households experience food insecurity, compared to the national average of 12.7%. The hamlet food voucher program was helping with, on a…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Uqaqtittiji, the government has legal obligations to first nations children, but the minister has stopped doing the work. This inaction is costing children their lives. The National Children's Chiefs Commission is being ignored. The Liberals would rather pay lawyers to fight with first nations children. Will the minister commit to permanently stopping the discrimination against first nations child…
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Uqaqtittiji, Inuit rely on hunting and trapping in a harsh environment. Nunavut is vast, with over 45,000 kilometres of coastline, and with no search and rescue base. When Nunavummiut are in trouble, they must wait for help from Halifax, which is over 2,000 kilometres away. Nunavut needs a centrally located search and rescue base in Sanirajak. Will the government provide that, or will it continue …
Read full speech →Government Orders
Uqaqtittiji, it is quite problematic that the Liberals tabled the bill with very little data regarding bail, and a huge focus at committee needs to be on making sure that we are moving toward an evidence-based decision-making model regarding bail. I wonder if the member agrees that the federal government must show its leadership by creating a framework for data collection regarding bail.
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Uqaqtittiji, on September 19, I asked a question about funding the hunters and trappers organizations in Nunavut, and the government could not provide any answers. Are the Liberals not aware of their legal obligation to ensure that the Nunavut Agreement is implemented and that there is adequate funding for hunters and trappers organizations? The Nunavut Wildlife Management Board funds the hunters …
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Uqaqtittiji, I am glad to see the Liberal government understands that it has legal obligations under the Nunavut agreement. Unfortunately, some of the increases in investments are still not enough, as I mentioned earlier. I have met with all 25 hunters and trappers organizations, as I said earlier. Some of them are in offices that should be condemned, and we need to make sure that they have proper…
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Uqaqtittiji, I think we all know in this room and in the rest of Canada that indigenous and racialized people have some of the highest incarceration rates in Canada. I wonder if the member can share with us how the bill on reverse onus will have an impact on those who are most marginalized and how their justice will be protected in the bill.
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Uqaqtittiji, the John Howard Society recently called on Ontario to expand its bail system and make it stronger. The society has a 96% success rate in ensuring that bail conditions are met. I wonder if the member agrees that the work of community-based supervision programs, like the 17 programs across Canada, should be expanded.
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Uqaqtittiji, I welcome the new member to the House. As a potential effect of the bill, it could eventually result in placing more people in detention. From what we have heard from the Liberal government, we are going to have an austerity budget. I wonder if the member could share with us how the government expects provinces and territories to meet the potentially increased demands without the incr…
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Uqaqtittiji, I mentioned already that we all know about the overrepresentation of indigenous and racialized people in the correctional system. This bill would broaden the reverse onus on many of the categories that are indigenous and marginalized people. I wonder if the member can share what supports will be established for those who are still quite oppressed under the current system.
Read full speech →Government Orders
Uqaqtittiji, I am honoured to speak to Bill C-14 as the NDP justice critic, and I acknowledge that there is huge public concern about the bail system and that Canadians want to feel safe. The New Democrats, having read through this bill, have concerns. There are real challenges in our bail system. Some examples include the high detention rate of those charged and awaiting trial. One-third of those…
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