Thank you, monsieur le président.
There's no place more important for me to be this morning than here, although there are important things happening in the House as well. I realize all of us are torn between making those choices. We're delighted to be here, of course.
I wish to thank members of the standing committee for welcoming me to talk with you about the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development's 2009-2010 Main Estimates—which provides us another opportunity to discuss the government's agenda for aboriginal and northern Canadians.
As minister over the past two years, I've had the privilege of visiting first nations and Inuit communities across the country and talking at length with aboriginal and northern leaders. What I've seen and heard has confirmed for me that I believe we are on the right track. We are making headway. We are addressing the pressing needs of aboriginal people and northerners in real, meaningful ways. We're building important infrastructure, resolving long-standing land claims, and improving access to better-quality services. We're helping communities and people across the country to look to the future with hope. I believe the members of this standing committee are active players in our success. You've been studying and reporting on priority and timely issues. You've accelerated critical legislation and you have collaborated to best serve northerners, Métis, and members of first nations and Inuit communities across Canada, and for that I thank you.
In particular, I want to thank you for your support and rapid approval of Bill C-28, An Act to amend the Cree-Naskapi (of Quebec) Act. It is delightful to see that move quickly. We waited a long time for that, and it's nice to see that move through the House and hopefully on to the Senate shortly. I'm also pleased that Bill C-5 has received royal assent. That is due, in large part, to the work here of this committee, and I want to thank you for that support.
Last night we had a vote in the House of Commons. I think we dodged a bullet, frankly, on Bill C-8. Frankly, I'm unsure exactly what happened between the time of the speeches in the House talking about the bill and the motion to hoist the bill, which would effectively have killed it. I read through your speeches, and many of you gave really passionate speeches about the need to address the concerns, especially of aboriginal women, when it comes to matrimonial property rights. Bill C-8 is an effort to not only address matrimonial property rights in a way that would allow especially women and children the protection that all other Canadians take for granted, but it was really an opportunity to put in place a mechanism to allow first nations to put in place their own culturally sensitive laws on their own lands without interference by the federal government.
My hope is that we can get back to business. I urge all parties to deal with the subject matter itself. I'm still hopeful that we can deal with that in the House, get it into committee, and have the good study of it that many of you have said you would like to proceed with. I would hope that this will be possible now as we get back to that.
Moving on past Bill C-8, we are committed to addressing the legacy of residential schools, speeding up the resolution of specific claims, and ensuring that safe drinking water is available to all members of first nations and Inuit communities. Our resolve is to tackle these specific areas because we believe it will enable communities to heal, to grow strong, and to plan for the future. Those are our three priority areas in these main estimates, three areas where we will focus our resources and our efforts in the coming year. But we must also continue to build on our more successful programs and services and continue to renovate those that may be falling behind. We must use tools to help grow local economies, to ensure access to safe and reliable drinking water, to build and repair schools and homes, and we must use these tools to enable aboriginal people to lead healthier and more fulfilling lives. We have set out, I believe, a clear, prudent plan.
Mr. Chairman, my department's main estimates for 2009-10 are an important part of that plan. The main estimates for this fiscal year are part of the sound, well-balanced approach we are taking to serve all Canadians. In the main estimates, roughly $6.9 billion is allocated to programs and services that address the critical human needs of aboriginal peoples and northerners. You will notice that this figure is an increase of some $666 million, more than 10% over last year's estimates. Allow me to explain why.
This year the estimates include $286 million for the Office of Indian Residential Schools Resolution of Canada. The responsibility for this office was transferred to my department in June 2008. Also new in this year's estimates are three other critical investments: $243 million to further implement provisions of the specific claims action plan; $138 million to continue taking action on the first nations water and waste water action plan; and an additional $93 million for ongoing programs that provide basic services to members of first nations and Inuit communities.
Mr. Chairman, these new investments will serve all northerners, Métis and members of first nation and Inuit communities.
Another vital element of our approach is to connect our aboriginal and northern agenda to the economic action plan set out in the January budget. Through the economic action plan, the government is dedicating more than $1.4 billion over two years to priority issues that impact the well-being of aboriginal peoples. More specifically, the government is dedicating $200 million to skills development and job training to ensure that members of first nations, Métis, and Inuit communities have the necessary tools to take part in and excel in Canada's workforce; $400 million to service residential lots and build, renovate, and remediate housing on reserves; $515 million to construct schools, ensure access to safe drinking water, and improve health, policing, and other vital infrastructure on reserves; and another $325 million to nurture partnerships with aboriginal organizations and provincial and territorial governments—essential partnerships that help deliver health programs and child and family services to first nations and Inuit communities.
In all, more than $535 million, over one-third of the $1.4 billion total, will flow through my department over the next two years—$260 million this year and the balance next year. I should note that the $260 million for this year is not included in the main estimates. It will be incorporated into the supplementary estimates, but I wanted to give an overview of it today in case there are questions on it. Supplementary estimates (A), for example, which were tabled on May 14, account for roughly $253 million of the $260 million for this year.
Through Canada's economic action plan, the government is investing more than $500 million in the north—funding that will benefit all Canadians, including aboriginal peoples. The greatest share of that funding—$200 million over two years—is to renovate and build much-needed housing in the territories. Other major initiatives include $50 million over five years to establish a regional development agency that will support economic growth in the north and $90 million over five years to revitalize the strategic investments in northern economic development initiative, a core suite of highly successful programs that my department has long delivered and that the new regional development agency will continue to deliver, once it's up and running.
This government also remains committed to Arctic science and will invest $87 million over two years in northern research facilities. Preliminary work has started towards the establishment of a Canadian high Arctic research station.
Finally, the government will invest $59 million over two years to stabilize the food mail program to provide access to healthy food in isolated northern communities.
Altogether, between my department's main estimates and the economic action plan, the Government of Canada's clear, prudent plan to meet the needs of northerners and aboriginal peoples totals $7.3 billion. As you may already know from the first report to Canadians on the implementation of the economic action plan in March, the government has already begun to allocate these funds. I've already identified and announced all of the projects for schools and water facilities and all of the Arctic science projects. They've all been announced, we are moving briskly to implement, and I would be pleased to take questions about them.
With the help and support of this committee, Mr. Chairman, we will continue to address the vital needs of northerners, of Métis, and of members of first nations and Inuit communities.
We will continue to ensure that every Canadian can achieve his or her potential and contribute to the future of our great country.
Thank you very much to you, Mr. Chairman, and to all committee members.
I am now more than happy to take any questions you may have.