NORTHERN AFFAIRS

The Acting Chairperson (Mr. Penner): Next department on the agenda here is Northern Affairs. Can we call in the minister and staff or shall we recess for a few minutes to allow for orderly procedure or orderly transfer of staff from one ministry to the next? What is the will of the committee? Let us call a 10-minute recess.

An Honourable Member: 4:30.

The Acting Chairperson (Mr. Penner): 4:30 it shall be. Thank you.

The committee recessed at 16:23 p.m.

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After Recess

The committee resumed at 16:33 p.m.

The Acting Chairperson (Mr. Penner): Will the Committee of Supply please come to order. This section of the Committee of Supply will be considering the Estimates of Northern Affairs. Does the honourable Minister of Norther Affairs have an opening statement?

Hon. David Newman (Minister of Northern Affairs): I do, Mr. Chair.

This being my first participation in the Estimates process as a minister, I am very pleased to begin with a very small audience and in the presence of the honourable member for The Pas (Mr. Lathlin), and you, Mr. Chair, in particular, such a distinguished Chair.

Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to present the 1997-98 Estimates of the Department of Northern Affairs. The department is addressing a large range of unique issues affecting aboriginal peoples in northern residence and the future development of northern Manitoba. These are exciting times for the North and the people who live there. The decisions we make now will have a long-range impact and will lead to improved living conditions and opportunities.

Our mandate is to co-ordinate and promote initiatives relating to aboriginal peoples in northern communities. In order to address this dynamic environment of change, our approach has been to develop partnerships and co-operative approaches with communities, aboriginal organizations, government departments and agencies, other levels of government and nongovernment bodies.

Mr. Chairman, a moment ago I mentioned decisions that will have a profound long-range impact on northern Manitoba. One of them concerns negotiations on Northern Flood Agreement claims. These are expected to be successfully concluded soon with community ratifications taking place by this summer. Similarly, significant progress is being made on finalizing treaty land entitlement or as we call them, TLE negotiations.

These negotiations arise from Manitoba's constitutional obligation to return land to Canada in order that the federal government may address outstanding land obligations to certain Indian bands through the signing of treaties. Seven TLE agreements have been completed to date, and we expect to sign a TLE framework agreement with Canada and the remaining 19 bands soon. The settlement of this outstanding obligation, which has existed for decades, will help secure economic progress and independence for the TLE communities.

To speak personally for a moment, I have a keen interest in meeting with the leaders and residents of northern and aboriginal communities, and intend to make my job one of getting out into the field to discuss policies and policy ideas. We intend to work with northern and aboriginal communities and increase their independence opportunities and ability to create their own destinies. In our programming and partnerships, Mr. Chairman, we are putting children and youth first. Our focus is on developing services and programs that are in the best interests of the generation to come.

I would like to briefly mention some of the completed and continuing initiatives in which we are partners or supporters: First, the recreation and sports initiative of Mochikitahwak which plans to have projects in 10 northern communities this year. Initiatives focus on children and youths under the Children and Youth Secretariat, which will include the aboriginal community as an important partner. Family group conferencing, a full-time urban sports camp to be established in Winnipeg's core area this summer. The Aboriginal Health and Wellness Centre at the Aboriginal Centre of Winnipeg operated by an aboriginal institution. This centre is funded by Manitoba Health. It will take a holistic approach to health and incorporate aboriginal values and knowledge. The urban aboriginal strategy, a provincial round table initiative with aboriginal participation. The round table involved there is the Round Table of the Environment and Economy chaired by the Premier (Mr. Filmon).

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As part of the Manitoba Marathon, an initiative to involve aboriginal organizations in raising funds for treating fetal alcohol syndrome, this will be called the Aboriginal Challenge Relay and it takes place on Father's Day.

A Child Find strategy to prevent runaways in the aboriginal community.

The Partners for Careers program in which three of six members of the advisory board are aboriginal youth representatives and three on the advisory board are employer reps.

The Blueprint for the Future Aboriginal Career Fair, which took place last week, and that was the Blueprint for Careers organized by John Kim Bell, ably assisted by his wife, Dr. Judy Bell. It was an enormous success in terms of attendance and in terms of the quality of the workshops and the participation by the employer community, the federal government and provincial government in the collaborative kind of model that I have been speaking to.

The Northern Youth Conference in Thompson which took place over Easter weekend was an aboriginal initiative led by aboriginal youth, in particular Greg McIvor and several other co-ordinators, one of them being Willie Miswagon. It was an aboriginal initiative that our department both supported and I had the good fortune to participate in with my wife over the Easter weekend, beginning on Good Friday and through Easter Monday.

Facilitating continuing support for a solvent abuse program originating in the Indian and Metis Friendship Centre here in Winnipeg, a program that was funded by the federal government for two years. The funding came to an end March 31, and we are in the process of helping them survive until federal funding is, hopefully, resumed for a fundamentally important solvent abuse program that has two years of useful developmental experience. Excellent materials have developed, and they are just in the process of introducing it into the systems of disseminating information.

The north central hydro line, which is progressing well. When completed, this line will bring improved power and health and economic opportunities to nine northeastern communities in the province.

We are making progress in negotiations with Indian bands on two significant issues. The first is taxation agreements with regard to gasoline, cigarette and other provincial taxes with respect to reserve lands. We have also worked out agreements with 26 Status Indian communities on aboriginal gaming. A new aboriginal gaming working group is in the process of being formed and it will be addressing future policy in this field.

Mr. Chairman, as my colleague the Minister of Family Services (Mrs. Mitchelson) will discuss in more detail, Manitoba will work with other governments to provide a new national child benefit. We welcome this nationwide initiative and, in particular, the participation of the federal government. Children who begin their lives in want and poverty lack the fair and equal chance to flourish, grow and achieve what Manitobans believe should be the birthright of every child. The evolving joint federal-provincial initiative promises to help reduce economic deprivation among many Manitoba families with children. However, we are not yet satisfied that this new initiative in itself contains sufficient measures to address the very special problems of child impoverishment of mind, body and spirit that affect many of Manitoba's aboriginal people. Taking action to overcome the levels of impoverishment in their communities is an urgent necessity.

Mr. Chairman, as was stated in the throne speech, and I quote: "In this spirit of partnership, my government will be announcing a new initiative to place unemployed aboriginal high school, college and university graduates into positions in the private and public sectors by encouraging employers to commit to a number of entry level positions each year for aboriginal graduates. This program will help address the high levels of unemployment in the aboriginal community and will be financed in part by the provincial and federal governments."

It is expected that this program called Partners for Careers will commence shortly. Through our government's partnership approach, we are working with northern residents to help them gain independence through jobs. Under the new Employment and Income Assistance program, Northern Affairs is a partner in Employment First initiatives.

We are encouraging community councils in Northern Affairs communities to hire income assistance clients for local projects. To support this provincial initiative, the department allocated $40,000 to top up the participants' salaries as an incentive. As a result, 48 recipients are employed by community councils. We will continue our partnership with Family Services, northern residents and community councils in '97-98 by allocating another $40,000 to encourage councils to use the program.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank and commend the many councils whose outstanding contributions, support and participation have helped to create a climate for helping clients gain the opportunity to learn the skills and experience they need to obtain jobs. We are looking forward to receiving the recommendations of the task force on apprenticeship which are expected this spring. I believe they will lead to revitalization of apprenticeship, a cornerstone of Manitoba's training strategy that offers exciting career opportunities.

Mr. Chairman, Manitoba wants to create an environment where apprenticeship opportunities for aboriginal peoples will be enhanced. I would like to mention one current program, the Aboriginal Apprenticeship Initiative. It focuses on trades related to residential construction, the carpentry, electrical and plumbing trades. The key element of the program is that it takes the special needs and conditions of northern communities into account.

Mr. Chairman, we are strongly committed to improving the quality of life of northern and native residents. This includes meeting needs that go beyond employment, such as a healthy environment and opportunities for recreation activities. A recreation program was put in place by a request from leaders of Indian bands and Northern Affairs communities. They are concerned with the deteriorating health of their people, the high rate of suicides in youths, and the increase in youths committing substance abuse and crime.

Recreation used to be a natural part of the aboriginal lifestyle in the past. The leaders have told us that lifestyles have changed and that their people are less involved in participating in and leading recreational activities. We agreed that overcoming barriers and devising solutions had to start at the community level. The most successful solutions consistently noted are community ownership, awareness of benefits of recreation to residents and leaders, multiyear planning, communications, access to resources and community networking.

Mr. Chairman, based on our consultation process, we are strengthening this program. A new initiative is being developed this year. A staffperson is assigned to provide community development in recreation and wellness programs. This includes assisting residents in planning for the future of the community involving a variety of individuals and community bodies such as residents, schools, churches, business and health workers. This will ensure the community is in the driver's seat. The programing and skill development will be tailored to a community's needs. Recreation and wellness programs will be appropriate to the resources, community location, culture and lifestyle of the community.

Mr. Chairman, this past year we took a leadership role with Manitoba Hydro in discussions with the communities of Thicket Portage and Pikwitonei regarding enhanced hydro service. As many of you know, we announced earlier this year that a $4.5-million transmission line will be built to these communities. Until now they have had 15-amp service provided by diesel generators which restricts electrical use to small appliances. I am very pleased to advise the committee that full electrical service utilizing the new transmission line commenced several weekends ago.

With the establishment of regular electrical service, residents will enjoy unrestricted use of electrical appliances. There will be new opportunities for business to expand or use equipment that previously could not be operated because of limited power supply. The availability of electricity will provide opportunities for expansion of businesses requiring power such as service and contracting to the forestry industry. More businesses mean more jobs for local people. This is a major step forward for the people in Pikwitonei and Thicket Portage. Service from the main power grid will have a positive effect on their quality of life.

The credit for these accomplishments must go to the residents in communities themselves. Nearly 90 people participated in clearing 95 kilometres of hydro line right-of-way, and they did it over the winter months. Mr. Chairman, it is a pleasure for me as a minister to see communities play an active role in developing their initiatives. We are focusing our attention on enhancing opportunities for more autonomy and initiative as well as improved quality of life of people who live and work in our northern and native communities.

Mr. Chairman, an important responsibility of my department is overseeing local government in unincorporated Northern Affairs communities. As Minister of Northern Affairs, I am committed to strong movement towards healthy, sustainable and more independent communities in the North. It is vitally important that the people of northern Manitoba feel they have influence and are full participants in our province. We believe that if communities are given a clear picture of what incorporation means, if they have confidence in their level of development, if they can offer adequate salaries to entice skilled staff, if they have resources to operate sustainable municipal services and funding guarantees, they will take this opportunity.

In this fiscal year, we will develop a consultation process with the aim of empowering communities to take on more authority and responsibility for managing their own affairs. This will include investigating the feasibility of long-term financial security for communities and developing long-term sustainable plans for communities wishing to incorporate. The plans will include community, employee program standards and means of monitoring and evaluating outcomes.

Mr. Chairman, the credit for our accomplishments over the past year goes to the staff in my department and to the aboriginal peoples, northern residents and community councils who are working with us in partnership to target and achieve our goals. I would like to take this opportunity to thank my staff for their accomplishments and commitment to aboriginal peoples and in northern Manitoba and its residents.

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The Acting Chairperson (Mr. Penner): Thank you very much, Mr. Minister. Does the official opposition critic, the honourable member for The Pas, have an opening statement?

Mr. Oscar Lathlin (The Pas): Mr. Chairman, I am also pleased to once again participate in the Estimates process to discuss the '97-98 budget of the Department of Northern Affairs.

I would like to start off by offering my congratulations to the new minister who has been appointed Minister of Northern Affairs and also responsible for aboriginal affairs and Mines and Energy and whatever else he is responsible for in Northern Affairs. I, on behalf of all northern people, welcome him. I know he has travelled to The Pas on at least two occasions that I have seen him there. The first time I saw him there was a couple of years ago, I think, or a year ago when he attended the Trappers Festival while he was doing some child care work, I think. He was doing some kind of committee work in The Pas anyway, daycare or some item--[interjection] civil justice, right, yes. I know he has been up there since to visit The Pas, so I welcome him to northern Manitoba and also to the Department of Northern Affairs. I would also like, of course, to wish him well with his new responsibilities, wish him health and I was going to say a good mind but he has a good mind already, so I will just wish him good health and, you know, all the success as he goes about with his new responsibilities.

I would also like to acknowledge, before we get into Estimates, the hard work and the unfailing commitment of people who reside in northern Manitoba whether they are residents in the MKO jurisdiction or in the NACC, the tribal councils, and even in those individual First Nation communities, you know, the towns, The Pas, Flin Flon and Thompson, Snow Lake, Gillam and those communities and Churchill, because I think, as the minister will attest, I do not think you have to be a special breed to be able to live in the North, but I think it takes a special person anyway.

Some of us have moved there. We could have been holidaying or we could have been visiting or employment might have taken us to northern Manitoba, and a lot of us have ended up staying in northern Manitoba and calling it our home and stayed there forever. Then a lot of us are, of course, indigenous to the North. We have no other place that we can call home in southern Manitoba or elsewhere in Canada or even in the world for that matter. That is where we were born, and we do not have any other homeland or motherland, I think it is called.

So that is where we are from and that is our home along with all the other people who have decided to maintain residence in northern Manitoba. So I acknowledge the hard work and the commitment of all those people who reside in northern Manitoba.

Sometimes we complain about not being well looked after by the government of Manitoba because we live in the North. Sometimes we accuse the government of punishing us because we happen to have been born and are residing in the North, but we keep working. We never give up, and I think that is what makes northern people the special people that they are.