Committee member biographies: Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs—June 19, 2020
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Members from the Liberal Party of Canada
Gary Anandasangaree
Constituency: Scarborough—Rouge Park
Province/Territory: Ontario
Preferred Language: English
Current role: Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations
Biography
- First elected to Parliament in 2015
- He has served as Chair of the Canadian Tamil Youth Development Centre, president of the Canadian Tamils’ Chamber of Commerce, and counsel to the Canadian Tamil Congress
- He is a lawyer and was called to the bar in 2006, and later managed his own firm in Scarborough
Role
- Member of the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs: June 19, 2020
- Member of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs: June 19, 2020
Considerations
The member has been active on social media sharing Government updates and news from his riding.
Subject of interventions in the House
The member has raised concerns regarding the conditions in long-term care homes raised by the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).
Jaime Battiste
Constituency: Sydney-Victoria
Province/Territory: Nova Scotia
Preferred Language: English
Current role: Member
Biography
- First elected to Parliament in 2019
- He worked as a professor, senior advisor, citizenship coordinator and Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief
Role
- Member of the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans
- Member of the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs: June 19, 2020
Considerations
Mr. Battiste has been active on social media sharing updates on Government measures.
Interest in Public Services and Procurement Canada’s portfolio at the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs: June 19, 2020
The member has inquired for more information on the 5% procurement from Indigenous businesses and its implications on Indigenous communities. He further asked about current procurement on reserves.
Bob Bratina
Constituency: Hamilton East
Province/Territory: Ontario
Preferred Language: English
Current role: Chair
Biography
- First elected to Parliament in 2015
- He worked in radio and broadcasting for local morning shows and sporting events
- He was elected as member of the Provincial Parliament (MPP) for Hamilton Centre in 2004 and 2006
- He was elected as Mayor of Hamilton in 2010
Role
- Member of the Liaison Committee
- Member of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedures and the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs: June 19, 2020
- Chair of the Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs
Dr. Marcus Powlowski
Constituency: Thunder Bay—Rainy Rive
Province/Territory: Ontario
Preferred Language: English
Current role: Member
Biography
- First elected to Parliament in 2019
- Former physician in the emergency room at Thunder Bay Regional Health Science Centre
- For several years, he worked as a consultant in health legislation for the World Health Organization, he also volunteered on a medical project in Ethiopia
Role
- Member of the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs: June 19, 2020
- Member of the Standing Committee on Health
Considerations
- During the Standing Committee on Health (HESA) briefings on the Coronavirus, the member has asked questions about how the virus is known to be communicated, self-isolation measures for returning travellers, Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) protocol, and the procurement of medical supplies and medication
- During the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs (INAN) committee meetings, Dr. Powlowski asked questions about the healthcare systems in northern regions and on the government’s approach to find solutions for the communities
- Dr. Powlowski has been active on social media in sharing government messaging on its response to COVID-19, including messages from the chief Public Health Officer (CPHO)
- On social media, he has been focusing on issues such as access to employment insurance (EI)/economic measures, physical distancing, and assistance to the agricultural sector
Riding specific
Heddle Shipyards is located in the neighbouring riding of Thunder Bay—Superior North.
Adam Van Koeverden
Constituency: Milton
Province/Territory: Ontario
Preferred Language: English
Current role: Parliamentary Secretary
Biography
- First elected to Parliament in 2019
- He worked as a managing consultant with Deloitte, and as a broadcaster, writer and producer with CBC Sports
Role
Member of INAN.
Considerations
- During INAN meetings he asked about the impact on vulnerable populations within Indigenous populations and Indigenous youth
- Mr. Van Koeverden has been active on social media sharing government updates regarding COVID-19 and the Black Lives Matter movement
Lenore Zann
Constituency: Cumberland-Colchester
Province/Territory: Nova Scotia
Preferred Language: English
Current role: Member
Biography
- First elected to Parliament in 2019
- She worked as a screen, television, stage, and voice actress
- She was elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in 2009 and 2013 for the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party (NDP)
Role
- Member of INAN
- Member of the Special Committee on Canada-China Relations
Considerations
- During INAN meetings, she has asked questions about youth mental health, addiction and substance abuse, access to funding for women who are escaping violence on reserve, and access to funding for friendship centres
- Ms. Zann has been active on social media sharing government updates regarding COVID-19
Interest in Public Services and Procurement Canada Portfolio at the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs: June 19, 2020
Asked about the sectors that Indigenous businesses could be contracted by the Government of Canada in order to procure personal protective equipment (PPE) during the pandemic.
Members from the Conservative Party of Canada
Bob Zimmer
Constituency: Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies
Province/Territory: British Columbia
Preferred Language: English
Current role: Member
Biography
- First elected to Parliament in 2011
- In the 42nd Parliament, he served as chair of the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics (2017 to 2019), vice-chair of the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (2016 to 2017), critic for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, chair of the British Columbia (BC)/Yukon Conservative Caucus, and chair of the National Prayer Breakfast
Role
- Member of the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs: June 19, 2020
- Critics for Northern Affairs and Northern Economic Development Agency
Considerations
Mr. Zimmer issued a statement on social media expressing concerns regarding the national emergency stockpile and the availability of personal protective equipment in northern regions.
Interest in Public Services and Procurement Canada Portfolio at the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs: June 19, 2020
- The member has raised concerns about the availability of PPE in northern regions especially with the elders at risk since many members of these communities are caregivers
- He mentioned that north of Fort St. John, people turned to stores for PPE and hand sanitizer because the needed equipment never arrived from the national emergency stockpile
- The member mentioned that our stockpile was gifted to China resulting in no PPE left for Canadians
- The member asked about the available quantities of PPE in northern regions to allow businesses to reopen
Gary Vidal
Constituency: Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River
Province/Territory: Saskatchewan
Preferred Language: English
Current role: Member
Biography
- First elected to Parliament in 2019
- Served as mayor of Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan from 2011 to 2019
- He was vice chair of Saskatchewan City Mayors’ Caucus from 2016 to 2018
- Member of the SaskWater Board of Directors from 2008 to 2017
Role
- Member of the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs: June 19, 2020
- Critic for Indigenous Services
Considerations
- The member asked about the role of friendship centres during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the challenges of testing services in Indigenous communities
- Mr. Vidal has been active on social media sharing content regarding gun control, updates on government measures, and COVID-19 updates
Arnold Viersen
Constituency: Peace River—Westlock
Province/Territory: Alberta
Preferred Language: English
Current role: Member
Biography
- First elected to Parliament in 2015
- In the 42nd Parliament, Mr. Viersen was the deputy critic of rural affairs
Role
- Member of the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs: June 19, 2020
- Deputy critic for Crown-Indigenous Relations
Considerations
- The member has raised questions during INAN meetings about inconsistency of service rollouts on reserves, and the human trafficking of Indigenous women
- Mr. Viersen raised questions during the COVI question period on the Indigenous businesses that have received contracts for the procurement of PPE
- Mr. Viersen has been active on social media sharing content regarding the budget, gun control, oil in Alberta and human trafficking
Interest in Public Services and Procurement Canada Portfolio at the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs: June 19, 2020
- The member has asked about the challenges to get PPE in Indigenous communities, and the number of Indigenous businesses contracted by the government for the procurement of PPE, he further raised concerns regarding the approval process in order to be eligible as a vendor to procure for the GC
- Mr. Viersen questioned whether any Indigenous business has received a contract for PPE procurement from Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC)
Jamie Schmale
Constituency: Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock
Province/Territory: Ontario
Preferred Language: English
Current role: Vice-chair
Biography
- First elected to Parliament in 2015
- Former executive assistant and campaign manager for former Conservative MP Barry Devolin (Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes-Brock, Ontario)
- In the 42nd Parliament, he served as the opposition critic for Northern Economic Development, and Deputy Critic for Natural Resources
Role
- Vice-chair of the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs: June 19, 2020
- Member of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs: June 19, 2020
- Critics for Crown-Indigenous Relations
Considerations
Mr. Schmale has been active on social media sharing articles regarding gun control and updates on government measures
Member from the Bloc Québécois
Sylvie Bérubé
Constituency: Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou
Province/Territory: Quebec
Preferred Language: French
Current role: Vice-Chair
Biography
- Worked in human resources and information with the Centres intégrés de santé et de services sociaux (CISSS) de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue
- Acted as the director of the social committee at l’Hôpital de Val-d’Or
- Former president of the Parti Québécois d’Abitibi-Est
Role
- Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs
- Member of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs
- Critic for Indigenous Affairs
Considerations
- Ms. Bérubé asked about the steps that the government can take in order to help women who are victims of domestic violence and about the government funding for Indigenous communities
- Ms. Bérubé has been active on social media sharing content regarding mental health and updates on the government measures regarding COVID-19
Interest in Public Services and Procurement Canada Portfolio at the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs: June 19, 2020
The member asked if Indigenous communities have the resources they need in order to implement their pandemic plans.
Members from the New Democratic Party
Mumilaaq Qaqqaq
Constituency: Nunavut
Province/Territory: Nunavut
Preferred Language: English
Current role: Member
Biography
- First elected to Parliament in 2019
- Worked as an employment officer with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, and as a wellness program specialist with the Health Department of the Government of Nunavut
- Delivered a speech in the House of Commons on International Women’s Day, 2017
Role
- Member of the Standing Committee on Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs
- Member of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs
- Critic for the Northern Economic Development agency, Northern Affairs
- Deputy Critic for Natural Resources
Considerations
- The member stated that resources for mental health are scarce in her riding and is interested in the support that can be provided during the pandemic
- The member asked about the testing done in Indigenous communities during an INAN meeting
- Ms. Qaqqaq has been active on social media sharing government measures and updates regarding Nunavut
Interest in Public Services and Procurement Canada Portfolio at the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs: June 19, 2020
The member asked whether chiefs were being consulted regarding the needs of PPE delivered in the communities.
Niki Ashton
Constituency: Churchill—Keewatinook Aski
Province/Territory: Manitoba
Preferred Language: English
Biography
- First elected to Parliament in 2008
- Ran in the 2012 and 2017 NDP leadership race
- Served in the 42nd Parliament as the NDP critic for Aboriginal Affairs
Role
Critic for Transport, and deputy critic for women and gender equality.
Considerations
- The member asked about the risks of contamination in work camps in northern regions
- Ms. Ashton is in favour of nationalisation of PPE production in Canada and sent a letter to the prime minister urging him to produce PPE for First Nations and northern regions
- The member is active on social media posting about airline company reimbursements and updates on COVID-19
Interest in Public Services and Procurement Canada portfolio
- The member asked during a HESA committee about the need for PPE for frontline staff who work for first nations
- The member asked about the possibility to fly in testing kits in northern regions
- During a meeting of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates (OGGO) on June 9, 2020, the member inquired about the resignation of one of the members of the Supply Council, as well as the vetting process
Charlie Angus
Constituency: Timmins—James Bay
Province/Territory: Ontario
Preferred Language: English
Biography
- First elected to Parliament in 2004
- Finished second in the 2017 NDP leadership race
- Served in the 42nd Parliament in critic roles for Indigenous Affairs and Ethics
Role
Critic for official languages, ethics, federal economic development initiative for Northern Ontario, Indigenous youth, income inequality and affordability, deputy critic for labour.
Considerations
- The member has asked about the economic effect of COVID-19 on small air carriers and airports that serve northern First Nations communities
- The member has stated that Canada was unprepared and was not able to provide frontline workers with sufficient amounts of PPE
- The member is active on social media with respect to the need to extend the availability of Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) and privacy concerns with contact tracing applications