It was the first time I’ve managed to get to Senate Question Period in their new chamber (previous attempts having been thwarted in one manner or another), and while the building is amazing, I find myself underwhelmed by the temporary Chamber itself. This having been said, the ministerial guest of honour today was Seamus O’Regan, minister for Indigenous Services, his first appearance in his new portfolio. Senator Don Plett led off, accusing the government of killing Indigenous jobs by rejecting the Northern Gateway pipeline, to which O’Regan stated that individual projects are as diverse as the diverse Indigenous communities, so you couldn’t make sweeping statements. He added that they work with Indigenous communities because it’s the right thing to do, and businesses want certainty, which is why the Conservatives’ environmental assessment legislation wasn’t working. On a supplemental, Plett accused the government of threatening future Indigenous projects with Bill C-69, and O’Regan took a swipe at the previous government’s record before regaling the Senate with the notion of doing regional assessments with the legislation.

Senator Wells asked about the Laurentian Channel Marine Protected Area, cutting off industrial activity in the area (in O’Regan’s capacity as the the regional minister for Newfoundland and Labrador). O’Regan made some particular comments about the recently renewed Atlantic Accord with the province, and that they had a more bilateral relationship regarding oil and gas.

Senator Joyal asked about the need to abolish the Indian Act, and how they are working toward that goal, and O’Regan said that splitting the Indian/Aboriginal Affairs department was part of that process, and noted that Bill C-92 was developed in partnership with Indigenous communities.

Senator Coyle asked about the process for developing Indigenous legislation, to which O’Regan regaled her with the tale of who Bill C-92 came to an overriding agreement on child and family services for Indigenous communities, and noted how much work his department would have to do once the bill gets passed.

Senator McPhedran asked why O’Regan hadn’t yet travelled to the high school in Thunder Bay where the students were murdered, and O’Regan said that they are trying to work with the community on the ground about the potential accommodations that have been recommended.

Senator Patterson asked a convoluted question about who O’Regan was negotiation with regarding territorial legislation, and O’Regan stated that there was room for Indigenous legislation under Bill C-92 and they would entertain any amendments to the bill that come forward.

Senator Dagenais asked about the stories of a consultant being paid over $1.8 million out of the Cat Lake First Nation housing budget (and wondered if said consultant was a Liberal donor), to which O’Regan said that the story was erroneous, and all money for housing would go to housing. 

Senator Pate wanted Bill C-92 to have funding guarantees, and wanted him to consider a minimum livable income to these communities to prevent social service apprehensions. O’Regan insisted that the government does life up to their funding commitments under Jordan’s Principle, and that they are open to further suggestions. 

Senator Boyer asked about coerced sterilisation of Indigenous women and what he was doing to prevent it, and O’Regan said that Health Canada had put together a working group to ensure safe and culturally appropriate healthcare, and one such meeting was today.

Senator McIntyre anointing cannabis excise tax revenue sharing with Indigenous communities, and O’Regan said that the legalization was an ongoing process and they would work with affected communities to address their concerns.

Senator Sinclair asked about the needed relocation for Kasheshewan, and O’Regan stated that me met the chiefs earlier this morning, and they affirmed the ongoing action, which is an ongoing process starting with having the province secure the land for the new community and they have already started tendering the process for building the road to it, and they are assessing the design of the new community, while they continue to invest in repairing the dike at their current site.

Senator McCallum asked about Manitoba seeking an exemption around Bill 92, and O’Regan assured her that they have jurisdiction and they have no intention of absolving any province of their obligations, and they are standing by the one year timeline for provinces to come to agreements.

Overall, I will note that O’Regan had a tendency to answer questions by relating the issue to something else, usually Newfoundland and Labrador-related, and would go about it in an oblique way, which made some of the responses difficult to follow (not that some of the questions themselves weren’t difficult to follow at times). I would note that we got better responses from O’Regan in this venue around the Kasheshewan issue than we have in the House of Commons, in part because he had more time to give a proper answer rather than to rush through a couple of talking points. I would also note that O’Regan was really well briefed, and he wasn’t relying on scripts or notes for his answers, which not all of his Cabinet colleagues can boast.

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Senator Jean-Guy Dagenais for a navy three-piece suit and tie with a slight blue shirt, and to Senator Judith Seidman for a black leather jacket with a burgundy top and black slacks. Style citations go out to Senator Marie-Françoise Mégie for a white jacket with grey leaf patterns over a black turtleneck, and to Senator Murray Sinclair for a light grey jacket over a bright red shirt and dark grey slacks.