This week’s ministerial Senate QP feature special guest star Jane Philpott, minister of Indigenous services. Senator Larry Smith led off, and worried that there wasn’t a cultural appropriate campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of marijuana for Indigenous youth. Philpott first noted that while it was her fourth appearance it at Senate QP, it was her first in her new role, and then noted that they had funded a task force that was engaging Indigenous communities on the topic, so that they had programmes that were led by Indigenous communities. Smith wanted some more details on this in the interests that there is some transparency, and wondered what elements it included. Philpott took note of the request for details and promised to follow-up before giving some more context about the meetings she has with Indigenous communities around their public health campaigns.

Senator Patterson asked about the call for addiction treatment centres being made available in Nunavut in advance of cannabis legalisation, while Philpott spoke about how funding for mental health services was focused on prevention, and that $7.7 million were allocated to Nunavut for mental health and addictions services, which was focused mostly on teams as opposed to infrastructure, and those teams were now including traditional healers. She then noted that they have funded a feasibility study for the construction of a treatment centre in Nunavut.

Senator Lovelace Nicolas asked about the lack of registration forms for those Indigenous women whose status has been restored by Bill S-3. Philpott first thanked the Senate for their amendments to the bill, but noted that this issue was Minister Bennett’s ambit and she would have that minister follow-up.

Senator Sinclair asked about the six-point plan for Indigenous child health reforms, and Philpott began listing some of the actions taken to date, which included another $1.4 billion in the budget to help close gaps and help prevent more children from being apprehended, and she was now hearing stories of families being reunited.

Senator Pate asked about the Indigenous youth deaths in Thunder Bay because they were forced to attend schools there. Philpott said that they were responding to recommendations, and making progress but would get back to her with details that she didn’t have on hand. She noted that the recommendations were being addressed by local Indigenous leaders, but she was trying to see what more could be done to ensure that youth didn’t have to leave their communities to get an education.

Senator Eaton asked about chronic respiratory problems in Indigenous children due to substandard housing, and the fact that the building code in Southern Canada doesn’t meet the needs of Indigenous communities, particularly in the North. Philpott spoke about the scourge of tuberculosis in Indigenous communities that can’t be eradicated until housing challenges are fixed, and she listed funding commitments that had been made to address these challenges. She also noted the gap in housing is in the area of 80,000 to 100,000 homes, and that building codes was a critical component of that.

Senator Andreychuk spoke about her cynicism around the plans for progress and change, Philpott noted the need for the government to let communities deal with some issues on their own, and recognising the need for self-determination among communities, using the issue of mental wellness as an example of how in Northern Ontario, they used Jordan’s Principle money to create community-based approaches to reconnecting youth with the land, and while it was too soon to have data, she was very encouraged by it.

Senator Dawson asked about the gaps in Indigenous healthcare and other socio-economic determinants, to which Philpott first mentioned investments that were being made, but noted that they are transforming their approach so that more communities are making their own decisions in order to change outcomes, citing the First Nations Health Authority in BC, which has helped to narrow the gaps and improve outcomes.

Senator McCallum asked about the breakdown of social cohesion in Indigenous communities as a result of residential schools, where children no longer could access resources within their communities, before segueing to concerns about gangs and cannabis. Philpott praised McCallum’s work and noted the importance of what she raised, which is why they are working to support solutions within communities that try to build that social cohesion.

Overall, it was another reminder that Jane Philpott is one of the strongest ministers in the current Cabinet, and she was able to address virtually all questions and concerns with facts and not platitudes, which doesn’t always happen. Her answers were not rambling (though occasionally some of the questions got a bit long – the final question had to be cut off because it was a two-page speech masquerading as a question), which makes for the best kind of Senate QP experience.

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Senator Murray Sinclair for a maroon shirt with a red and black Indigenous-patterned vest, and to Senator Joseé Verner for an off-white suit with a light grey top. Style citations go out to Senator Patricia Bovey for a blue-grey turtleneck with a black skirt and a dark blue jacket with an asymmetric cut, and to Senator Art Eggleton for a golden brown suit with a light blue shirt with a brown and black striped tie.