QUESTION PERIOD — Ministry of Indigenous Services
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
May 7, 2026
Good afternoon, minister. I am very pleased to see you here today. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples reminds Canada of its obligation to fully respect the economic, social and health rights of First Nations, particularly by supporting their ability to decide on, design and manage services that meet the needs of their communities. This responsibility must guide all decisions to support the self-determination of First Nations.
Can you tell the Senate what practical measures are currently being implemented to fulfill these commitments?
Thank you for the question. I had an opportunity to talk to my colleagues, who made a presentation to the United Nations in New York not long ago. I myself had the opportunity to participate in that forum because it’s important to not just take a position on these things, but to participate and advocate for our nation.
One of the things I said last week when the economic update came out is that we have to prove we can open the book and turn the page on everything affecting the lives of people in Indigenous communities. That’s what my mandate is about. However, we know there are still Indigenous individuals living outside their communities. Aspects of the economic update impact everyone whether they live in their community or outside of it.
There’s still a lot of work to do. It’s hard to work on these issues because there’s a legacy of service gaps. I have focused on collaborating with colleagues from the nations I work with to develop a strategy and make sure we have a clear process, not just a line-up —
Thank you, minister.
