Mandy Gull-Masty
Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, Quebec · Liberal · Canada
“Mr. Speaker, it was a pleasure and an honour to introduce the water bill, because we know that the $4.6 billion of resources attached to that bill are going to help communities do the work that they need to do in community, supporting their members with clean drinking water.”
“Mr. Speaker, I am happy that my colleague has asked that question. It is one of great importance, because we know that first nations have to do the work of expanding the minimum standards that are now applicable in their communities and setting the regulatory gaps for in communities and out of communities, working, negotiating and collabo…”
“Mr. Speaker, I am really proud to be here and do the work, and I invite my colleague to work with us in advancing the things we are determining: $5.9 billion to support on-reserve housing, ensuring that over 55% of first nations have housing plans, ensuring that communities have housing managers and ensuring that they are accessing the tr…”
“Mr. Speaker, that was an important question. Bill C-37 would ensure that first nations have the authority and means to deliver safe, reliable drinking water in their communities.”
“Mr. Speaker, the authority, clear standards, historic funding and sustained support are at the core of the bill. I am proud to have ensured that this government, the only government, has pushed forth the bill to support real jurisdiction over water systems, to create standards, and to govern these systems according to their rights, priori…”
“Bill C‑37. Introduction and first reading moved for leave to introduce Bill C‑37, An Act respecting water, source water, drinking water, wastewater and related infrastructure on First Nation lands . (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)”
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“Mr. Speaker, we have been continuously working with groups from friendship centres, meeting with them to address this very file. I invite my colleague to reach out to my office so we can continue looking at what the future will be for friendship centres. I know and understand this issue personally. There are two friendship centres in my riding. I am somebody who went to a friendship centre as part of an after-school care program. I think it is essential that we acknowledge the hard work they do and continue supporting them.”
“Mr. Speaker, our government has proposed new measures to make life more affordable. Families in my riding will see the impacts first-hand. I am thinking of the dad who will be able to pay for his son's lunch when he participates in a tournament, or the skates that a family will need to buy. These are things that affect the lives and the daily reality of Quebeckers. In my own family, I am thinking of my uncle and cousin who go hunting to obtain traditional food. This support will put more money in their pockets, which will give them a better quality of life.”
“Mr. Speaker, I want to reassure my colleague. We are here to help families, not only with their grocery bills, but also with living expenses, such as child care costs and unplanned expenses. We are asking our colleagues to heed the letter from their leader , who has indicated that he is open to working with us to help 12 million Canadians.”
“Mr. Speaker, I want to wish everyone a happy new year. We are working together on new measures to help families put food on the table. For example, in my riding, not only will a single mother get more purchasing power, but she will also benefit from new measures to help her buy shoes and clothes and pay for after-school care. These are realities not only in my riding, but in opposition members' ridings as well, I am sure. I ask them to work with us and give—”
“Mr. Speaker, I want to speak to what the Conservative Party claims this motion speaks to. While on one hand they speak to half the sentence of respecting consultations for indigenous people, they are also speaking out of the other side of their mouth to the jurisprudence that would allow these projects to move forward. I want to understand what they are doing. Are they consulting or pushing projects forward? That is the concern of indigenous people. That is what they are bringing to the table. That is what we are looking at when they come and work with us in partnership, and that is the future that they want to decide on with us.”
“Mr. Speaker, first nations children need to be guided by self-determination, and that is the pull we are using to proceed with this work. I have on multiple occasions met with many people looking to serve, and bring forward solutions for, indigenous children in community. What I invite my colleague to do with me is find a path forward and respond to the urgency that is needed in this file for solutions that will deliver the proper care for children surrounded by their families, in community, in their own language and by those who care for them the most.”
“Mr. Speaker, we should be talking about indigenous families and families living in Quebec's regions. All the families back home in my riding felt that the budget has truly increased and maintained programs for the most vulnerable members of our communities. It is a budget that will protect them, but the opposition voted against it. We want to know this: Is the process of spending on credit not really a process of defending Canada?”
“Mr. Speaker, I would ask my colleague opposite to speak to all of his constituents. In this budget, we have decided to protect the position of first nations. It is important to note that we have also included investments in infrastructure, such as clean drinking water and housing. I encourage the opposition to work with us to protect these decisions, to protect indigenous nations. I know my colleague has indigenous communities in his riding.”
“Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister does not only have a vision for what this country is now, but what it is going to be. That is why he has assigned multiple ministries to work on transforming health care in those critical spaces in the north, spaces that always lacked investment on this side of the House, spaces that never see the light of day with having support on this side of the House. We are inviting them to finally come into those spaces and support indigenous people with those critical services. It is something that we know all voters are asking for.”
“Mr. Speaker, I want to highlight today that the opposition can offer Nicole and single-parent households the support of a future that is based on today's budget that will be presented. My colleagues today have the chance to protect the very futures they speak about, including those of the young indigenous children, the fastest-growing population, who need us and depend on the programs we have put in place. Canadians chose a Prime Minister with a vision they trust. We hope the opposition will prioritize protecting the Canadians' budget, which they need at this critical time. We know that we all—”
“Mr. Speaker, our home is where we should feel the safest. Many indigenous people live in housing that is overcrowded, contaminated and unaffordable. The new “build Canada homes” program is going to finance indigenous housing providers to grow affordable housing in communities while catalyzing capital for a revolutionary approach to homebuilding in communities at a pace we never saw in the darkest decade of government, the Conservative era.”
“Mr. Speaker, this year marks the 10th year of the TRC's calls to action. The government has made historic decisions to respond. In the current government, there has been the appointment of the first indigenous Minister of Indigenous Services so indigenous people can be served by their very own. We also have indigenous voices at the cabinet table, creating space for representation and decision-making. The Prime Minister has advanced the TRC's foundational request of inclusion and belonging for September 30 and every day after that.”
“Mr. Speaker, National Indigenous Peoples Day is a time for us to celebrate first nations people, and Métis, Inuit and indigenous communities, each with their own culture, identity and languages. In addition, I am honoured to be the first indigenous minister leading Indigenous Services to serve indigenous people in this community, somebody who understands their reality and can speak with them directly one on one with respect for their culture and identity.”
“Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be sitting on this side of the House to ensure that the reconciliation process will now be a “reconcili-action” process. We are working in partnership with the indigenous peoples here in Canada. They will be engaged in a process that will be clear, serious and self-determined. This party is very open to ensuring that everyone has a place at the table, as only our government can do.”
“Mr. Speaker, the federal government will determine whether a major project is in the national interest based on consultation with the provinces, territories and indigenous people. Projects selected will also be subject to comprehensive consultation with indigenous people. For all projects, the Crown, including the provinces and territories, must consult indigenous people. That is what the government is going to do.”
“During this process, my team oversaw several discussions directly with the communities, chiefs and the people responsible for emergency processes to ensure that the way communities are evacuated in times of crisis has been clearly understood and follows a process that fosters greater respect for cultural needs and that allows evacuees to be served in their language and by their own people.”
“Mr. Speaker, I think we are in a time of crisis. We can see that several communities have told people that they are welcome in their community. I am very proud that several first nations invited people to come and opened the doors of their communities to welcome them. I come from a nation where I have had the same experience. A number of municipalities around my nation also opened their doors to welcome people. It is truly a collaborative process to ensure that we are providing fair, quality service for people in evacuation centres. The Department of Indigenous Services is working with several partners, including the Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and our provincial partners. One of our priorities is to improve the way we communicate.”
“I also want to acknowledge that many first nations communities have stepped up, with their capacity and their expertise, to support their fellow first nations members and relations, bringing them into a space to feel welcomed and communicated with, and to ensure that it is done in a culturally safe way. We are looking to build that relationship beyond and outside the scope, inviting our partners and government to work with us and collaborate with us. I look forward, asking all members of this chamber for support in this time of crisis.”
“Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague for this important question. We are not only supporting our members as they are outside of the community in evacuation centres. We are offering wraparound services, including mental health and health care, and working with first nations bands and communities to support them in their administrative processes as they are not able to offer that service in the community, including ensuring that payroll is carried out and responding to the needs of HR processes outside of the community. These are all critical aspects of supporting them so that they can continue working for their members, be it in a position of coordinating evacuation or ensuring that payments are made to members in this time of crisis.”
“Emergencies occur, and we want to support communities and ensure that they can restore their positions, bring their members home in a culturally safe way, avoid vulnerability and exploitation, and strengthen the resilience they have as first nations people. In closing, wildfires are devastating. They test the strength of first nations communities and the bonds that hold us together. (1925) I want to acknowledge all entities that have supported this process, including the Canadian Armed Forces, all volunteers and all other organizing resources that have supported first nations in their evacuation and in the time that they are spending away from their homes. I also want to acknowledge those that will work with us to return the evacuees safely to their communities. Meegwetch . Nakurmiik .”
“This includes support for emergency management coordinator positions, and many have showcased their skill and capacity over the past few days. We are laying the groundwork for a future where communities are not just reacting to emergencies but equipped to prevent them. The post-wildfire season will be met with a debrief with first nations communities to focus on preparedness and the response and reaction. There is always room to improve. We want to ensure that it comes directly from first nations. This is a new government, with new opportunities, and we will respond in a new way, focused on first nations, indigenous peoples, Inuit and Métis. I want to ensure that health and safety of all first nations community members is the priority of this ministry. We are doing work to support in all capacities.”
“The future of first nations emergency management is top of mind for me as I take on this new role. It is an issue that has come up in many conversations that I have had with first nations leaders over the past few days. I would like to share another quote. Grand Chief Wilson of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs said, “I want to acknowledge the minister for listening to our concerns and establishing direct lines of communication. We are making progress, and we understand there are gaps that need to be addressed. I look forward to working with the minister to address these gaps.” We are also looking ahead to the 2025 wildfire season to ensure that we are not waiting; we are preparing. This ministry dedicates annual funding to capacity, mitigation and preparedness in first nations communities.”
“We have started to support indigenous nations in other provinces, such as Alberta and Saskatchewan, calling them and ensuring that our dialogue is in place to respond to their emerging needs. Indigenous Services Canada has taken steps to strengthen its approach. This includes implementing a new risk-based funding model, improving emergency management plans and enhancing program indicators. A key part of this work is multilateral emergency management service agreements, which are agreements that recognize first nations as full and equal partners alongside federal, provincial and territorial governments. These agreements are not just administrative tools; they ensure that we are showcasing shared responsibility and culturally appropriate emergency services.”
“We are also working to ensure that we are looking at long-term wildfire preparedness. Our FireSmart program supports preparedness through firefighter training, fuel management and vegetation clearing projects. The non-structural mitigation and preparedness program also helps to develop and test emergency management plans and to build capacity to respond to future emergencies. Preparedness is key. These supports are about building strength before disaster strikes so that communities can mitigate the impact to the greatest extent possible. It is to ensure not only that they have the ability to respond but also that they have the capacity to recover and thrive.”
“I want to share that we have been delivering these in a collaborative way to ensure that we are reflecting and respecting the needs of first nations. To ensure timely support, we have also provided advance payments to on-reserve and eligible first nation communities. This funding helps communities respond to the immediate need without waiting for reimbursement in a time of crisis. These upfront supports are a reflection of our commitment to uphold the dignity and well-being of every community member during a time of crisis. I spoke earlier today to Chief Bobby Cameron, and I want to echo his statement: Federal and provincial governments need to work together to respond to first nation emergencies jointly and collaboratively. We have shown that we are open to that dialogue and that partnership.”
“During this crisis, the Government of Canada has been a strong partner for first nations across Ontario, and we are proactive in reaching out to all provinces. This partnership reflects our shared responsibility. No single government or organization can face this challenge alone. It is through unity and mutual respect that we find the most effective solutions. (1920) The emergency management assistance program, under Indigenous Services Canada, reimburses eligible costs related to wildfire response and recovery. This includes evacuation support and culturally sensitive services, offered with wraparounds on site, taking into consideration mental health, traditional food, language interpretation and child care.”
“Chief Waylon Scott is one of the chiefs I have had the opportunity to speak with recently, and he offered a quote to be shared as part of the debate this evening: [Our] nation has been evacuated for some time now due to wildfires in Northern Ontario. The new Minister of Indigenous Services directed her team reach out to me directly, and they have been available and supportive throughout this emergency. I, Chief Scott, Ontario Regional Chief Benedict, and other Ontario Chiefs affected by the wildfires also met with the Minister virtually. Their situation, their needs and the best way to support their response were reflected in how our team, on numerous occasions, day and night, responded to the community and community members.”
“The ministry is working alongside first nations partners, as well as provincial and territorial counterparts, to monitor and to ensure that we respond rapidly to ever-evolving fire situations. I am in near-constant communication with my federal colleagues, such as the Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience . We have spoken with our provincial counterparts over the last few days. I want to commend the minister for her support, open communication and response to urgency when I called upon her at all hours of the night. I also want to acknowledge the many leaders who have spoken with me.”
“We have been supporting these communities through these challenging times, working around the clock to keep people safe and securing them in an ever-changing situation. Sometimes I receive calls from leadership who have been on the front lines fighting fires themselves. I want to acknowledge their leadership and courage. To support their evacuations, Indigenous Services Canada has first ensured that we provide advance payments to first nations communities. These funds help to ensure that communities have the resources they need when they need them in critical moments. This approach is proactive. It is necessary. When communities are given the right tools and resources to act swiftly, lives are protected and damage is minimized.”
“They are threatening lives, homes and entire communities. These fires are not isolated events; they are part of a growing pattern, yes, driven by climate change. They are affecting more and more people more frequently and more severely than ever before. I want to acknowledge the profound impacts the wildfires have had on individuals, families and communities. To those who have lost their homes, who have been forced to evacuate, and who are living with uncertainty and fear, I extend my deepest sympathies. [ Member spoke in Cree ] [ English ] I am thinking of everyone. I want to also share that my ministry has been in close communication with many chiefs and first nation leaders.”
“Wachiya , Mr. Speaker. [ Member spoke in Cree ] [ English ] It is my pleasure to congratulate you on winning this seat and representing us as the Speaker in the House. [ Translation ] It is a privilege to speak for the first time in the House as the member for Abitibi—Baie‑James—Nunavik—Eeyou. I would like to sincerely thank the residents of my riding for allowing me to represent them in the House. [ English ] It is also an honour to rise as the first Minister of Indigenous Services who is herself indigenous, a bold and historic move by our Prime Minister in the formation of his cabinet. I want to also acknowledge my colleagues from the indigenous caucus for coming to support this important debate tonight. I rise in this House with a deep sense of urgency and responsibility. Across Canada, wildfires are presently burning.”