Legislative Assembly of Alberta The 30th Legislature Second Session Standing Committee on Resource Stewardship Ministry of Indigenous Relations Consideration of Main Estimates Tuesday, March 3, 2020 9 a.m. Transcript No. 30-2-2 Legislative Assembly of Alberta The 30th Legislature Second Session Standing Committee on Resource Stewardship Hanson, David B., Bonnyville-Cold Lake-St. Paul (UCP), Chair Ceci, Joe, Calgary-Buffalo (NDP), Deputy Chair Dach, Lorne, Edmonton-McClung (NDP),* Acting Deputy Chair Feehan, Richard, Edmonton-Rutherford (NDP) Getson, Shane C., Lac Ste. Anne-Parkland (UCP) Loewen, Todd, Central Peace-Notley (UCP) Rehn, Pat, Lesser Slave Lake (UCP) Rosin, Miranda D., Banff-Kananaskis (UCP) Sabir, Irfan, Calgary-McCall (NDP) Singh, Peter, Calgary-East (UCP) Smith, Mark W., Drayton Valley-Devon (UCP) Walker, Jordan, Sherwood Park (UCP)** Yaseen, Muhammad, Calgary-North (UCP) * substitution for Joe Ceci ** substitution for Muhammad Yaseen Also in Attendance Nielsen, Christian E., Edmonton-Decore (NDP) Support Staff Shannon Dean Clerk Stephanie LeBlanc Clerk Assistant and Senior Parliamentary Counsel Teri Cherkewich Law Clerk Trafton Koenig Parliamentary Counsel Philip Massolin Clerk of Committees and Research Services Sarah Amato Research Officer Nancy Robert Research Officer Michael Kulicki Committee Clerk Jody Rempel Committee Clerk Aaron Roth Committee Clerk Rhonda Sorensen Manager of Corporate Communications Jeanette Dotimas Communications Consultant Tracey Sales Communications Consultant Janet Schwegel Director of Parliamentary Programs Amanda LeBlanc Deputy Editor of Alberta Hansard Transcript produced by Alberta Hansard Standing Committee on Resource Stewardship Participants Ministry of Indigenous Relations Hon. Rick D. Wilson, Minister Donavon Young, Deputy Minister March 3, 2020 Resource Stewardship RS-255 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 3, 2020 chair at the beginning of their rotation if they wish to combine their Title: Tuesday, March 3, 2020 rs time with the minister’s time. If members have any questions [Mr. Hanson in the chair] regarding speaking times or rotations, please feel free to send a note or e-mail to either the chair or the committee clerk. Ministry of Indigenous Relations A total of three hours has been scheduled to consider the Consideration of Main Estimates estimates of the Ministry of Indigenous Relations. The scheduled end time of this meeting is 12 p.m. With the concurrence of the The Chair: Good morning, everyone. I’d like to call the meeting to committee I will call a five-minute break near the midpoint of the order and welcome everyone. The committee has under meeting; however, the three-hour clock will continue to run. Does consideration the estimates of the Ministry of Indigenous Relations anyone oppose taking a break? Seeing none, we will take a break. for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2021. Ministry officials may be present and at the direction of the I’d ask that we go around the table and have all MLAs introduce minister may address the committee. Ministry officials seated in the themselves for the record, and, Minister, please introduce the gallery, if called upon, have access to a microphone in the gallery officials that are joining you at the table. I’m David Hanson, the area. Pages are available to deliver notes or other materials between MLA for Bonnyville-Cold Lake-St. Paul and chair of this the gallery and the table. Attendees in the gallery may not approach committee. We’ll continue, starting to my right. the table. Space permitting, opposition caucus staff may sit at the table to assist their members; however, members have priority to sit Mr. Loewen: Todd Loewen, MLA, Central Peace-Notley. at the table at all times. Mr. Smith: Mark Smith, MLA, Drayton Valley-Devon. If debate is exhausted prior to three hours, the ministry’s estimates are deemed to have been considered for the time allotted Mr. Getson: Shane Getson, MLA, Lac St. Anne-Parkland. in the schedule, and the committee will adjourn. Points of order will be dealt with as they arise, and the meeting clock will continue to Ms Rosin: Miranda Rosin, Banff-Kananaskis. run; however, the timer for the speaking block will be paused. Any written material provided in response to questions raised Mr. Walker: Jordan Walker, MLA, Sherwood Park. during the main estimates should be tabled by the minister in the Mr. Singh: Peter Singh, MLA, Calgary-East. Assembly for the benefit of all members. The vote on the estimates and any amendments will occur in Mr. Wilson: I’m Rick Wilson, Minister of Indigenous Relations. Committee of Supply on March 19, 2020. Amendments must be in I’ve got joining me Donavon Young, deputy minister, and Lisa writing and approved by Parliamentary Counsel prior to the Tchir, ADM, and, of course, Michael Lundquist, our senior meeting at which they are to be moved. The original amendment is financial officer. to be deposited with the committee clerk, and 20 copies of the amendment must be provided at the meeting for committee Mr. Feehan: I’m Richard Feehan, MLA for Edmonton-Rutherford. members and staff. I now invite the Minister of Indigenous Relations to begin with Mr. Sabir: Irfan Sabir, MLA for Calgary-McCall. his opening remarks. Sir, you have 10 minutes. Mr. Nielsen: Good morning, everyone. Chris Nielsen, MLA for Mr. Wilson: Thank you, Mr. Chair and committee members. I’m Edmonton-Decore. pleased to be with you on Treaty 6 land, a land with which the Métis Mr. Dach: Good morning. Lorne Dach, MLA for Edmonton- also share a deep connection. It seems like only moments ago we McClung and acting deputy chair. were here to discuss Indigenous Relations’ spending limits for Budget 2019. The Chair: I was just about to say that, Mr. Dach. Joining me today are members of the ministry’s senior I’d like to note the following substitutions for the record: Lorne leadership. I’ve already introduced those at the table with me. Dach for Joe Ceci as deputy chair and Jordan Walker for Behind me we have Cynthia Dunnigan, acting assistant deputy Muhammad Yaseen. minister of First Nations and Métis relations; Kristina Midbo, Please note that the microphones are operated by Hansard and director of indigenous women’s initiatives; Olga Michailides, that the committee proceedings are being live streamed on the director of communications; Ted Bauer, my press secretary; Jeremy Internet and broadcast on Alberta Assembly TV. Please set your Wong, my ministerial assistant; and finally, Riley Braun, my chief phones and other devices to silent for the duration of the meeting. of staff. Hon. members, the standing orders set out the process for the Although we’re here to consider the estimates for Indigenous consideration of the main estimates. Standing Order 59.01(6) Relations, I want to take a few moments just to share with you the establishes the speaking rotation while the speaking time limits are context of the work we’re doing for indigenous people in Alberta. set out in Standing Order 59.02(1). In brief, the minister or member In our first 10 months we’ve already had two joint meetings with of Executive Council acting on the minister’s behalf will have 10 all the First Nation chiefs, members of cabinet, and the Premier. I’m minutes to address the committee. At the conclusion of his sure we will hear about the Treaty 8 chiefs walking out at our last comments we begin a 60-minute speaking block for the Official meeting, likely as some evidence that our government-to- Opposition, followed by a 20-minute speaking block for the government relationship is strained, and that is precisely why I want government caucus. to talk about relationships before budget because our ministry is The rotation of speaking time will then alternate between the about working through issues that pull people to different sides. Official Opposition and the government caucus, with individual Our government has made a fundamental and financial speaking times set to five minutes each, which, if combined with commitment to make life better for indigenous people. The only the minister’s time, make a total 10-minute block. Discussion way to do this is in partnership toward a vision of shared prosperity, should flow through the chair at all times regardless of whether or that a better way of doing things is to work around the structures not the speaking time is combined. Members are asked to advise the that have held indigenous people back for far too long. This is why RS-256 Resource Stewardship March 3, 2020 we host meetings with indigenous leaders and take time to explore unemployment. We continue to strengthen communities by making options for their communities. sure people have a chance to find and get lasting, fulfilling, and When setting up the Alberta Indigenous Opportunities meaningful jobs where money flows all around and not just to Corporation, we hosted focus groups with leaders, and then we specialized off-reserve companies that do not invest in the shaped a path forward with them. We are planning another meeting communities they are contracted to. The employment partnership shortly with Treaty 8. When we announced the AIOC Act in program funds direct training and employment supports, fosters October, Billy Morin, the grand chief of Confederacy of Treaty Six industry partnerships to expand good employment opportunities for First Nations, said this about our work on the AIOC: when they said indigenous people, and supports employment-related events. We they were going to do it, they did it, and they didn’t fidget around have nearly $3.7 million available through Budget 2020 to connect for three years making commitments to try to get it right; they just indigenous people with good work. did it. 9:10 Ours is a relationship based on delivering the promises.