2nd Session - 43rd Legislature, Social & Economic Development 6, Oct 9, 2025

TIME – 6 p.m.

LOCATION – Winnipeg, Manitoba

CHAIRPERSON – MLA Billie Cross (Seine River)

VICE-CHAIRPERSON – MLA Robert Loiselle (St. Boniface)

ATTENDANCE – 6 — QUORUM – 4

Members of the committee present:

Hon. Min. Bushie, Hon. Min. Fontaine

MLAs Cross, Loiselle, Mr. Perchotte, Mrs. Robbins

APPEARING:

David Pankratz, MLA for Waverley at 6:17 p.m.

PUBLIC PRESENTERS:

Bill 210 – The Indigenous Veterans Day Act (Commemoration of Days, Weeks and Months Act Amended)

Randi Gage, private citizen

Justin Woodcock, private citizen

MATTERS UNDER CONSIDERATION:

Bill 210–The Indigenous Veterans Day Act (Commemoration of Days, Weeks and Months Act Amended)

* * *

Clerk Assistant (Ms. Melanie Ching): Good evening. Will the Standing Committee on Social and Economic Development please come to order.

Before the committee can proceed with the business before it, it must elect a Chairperson.

Are there any nominations?

Hon. Nahanni Fontaine (Minister of Families): I nominate MLA Billie Cross.

Clerk Assistant: Billie–MLA Cross has been nominated.

Are there any other nominations?

Hearing no other nominations, MLA Cross, will you please take the Chair.

The Chairperson: Our next item of business is the election of a Vice-Chairperson.

Are there any nominations?

MLA Fontaine: Chairperson, I nominate MLA Robert Loiselle.

The Chairperson: MLA Loiselle has been nominated.

Are there any other nominations?

Hearing no other nominations, MLA Loiselle is elected Vice-Chairperson.

This meeting has been called to consider the following bill: Bill 210, The Indigenous Veterans Day Act (Commemoration of Days, Weeks and Months Act Amended).

I would like to inform all in attendance of the provisions in our rules regarding the hour of adjournment. A standing committee meeting to consider a bill must not sit past midnight to hear public presentations or to consider clause by clause of a bill except by unanimous consent of the committee.

Prior to proceeding with public presentations, I would like to advise members of the public regarding the process for speaking in a committee. In accordance with our rules, a time limit of 10 minutes has been allotted for presentations, with another five minutes allowed for questions from committee members. Questions shall not exceed 45 seconds in length, with no time limits for answers.

Questions may be addressed to presenters in the following rotation: first, the minister sponsoring the bill or another member of their caucus; second, a member of the official opposition; and third, an independent member.

If a presenter is not in attendance when their name is called, they will be dropped to the bottom of the list. If the presenter is not in attendance when their name is called a second time, they will be removed from the presenters' list.

The proceedings of our meetings are recorded in order to provide a verbatim transcript. Each time someone wishes to speak, whether it be an MLA or a presenter, I first have to say the person's name. This is the signal for the Hansard recorder to turn the mics on and off.

Bill 210–The Indigenous Veterans Day Act
(Commemoration of Days, Weeks and Months Act Amended)

The Chairperson: I will now call on Randi Gage.

Randi Gage, please proceed with your presentation.

Randi Gage (Private Citizen): Boozhoo. Migiziikwe izhinikaazowin. Ogichidaawiikwe, maang indoodem. [Hello. My Anishinaabe name is Eagle Woman. I am a warrior/veteran. My family clan is the Loon Clan.]

In this world, I am Randi. I'm also the founder of Indigenous Veterans Day. And I have been at this for 31 years. For it to have moved this far, I am happy. It's been the longest gestational period of my life; I'm glad we're into the labour phase of it now, and get this finished off.

I noticed during the presentations–that both sides were making, by the way–that there was a lot of close but not right information. So I'd like to give you a little bit of a history so that you know a little bit more.

It was in 1991 that a group of Indigenous veterans went to the National War Memorial to place a wreath. The president of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples was with them, and they were refused. They could not take part in the actual ceremony. They were told that they can come back afterwards and place their wreath.

And this kind of ticked off the gentleman, so he was able to get some funding and hired another guy from BC, Gavin Rhodes, and he was to travel across Manitoba–across Canada to all the provinces and territories and establish units to be able to go to Ottawa to bring back to life the Indian brotherhood veterans' group.

* (18:10)

Now, that veterans' group was strictly First Nation–no Métis, no Inuit and very few women were even tolerated. So in August of '92, he came here. We established the Manitoba Aboriginal Veterans Association, and I ended up being pulled from my vacation in Riding Mountain and ended up as the secretary/treasurer of that organization. And I might let you know I still hold the title to that organization, even though many people have said that it has been moved to elsewhere; no, it hasn't. I'm the sole survivor of that group–of starting that group.

George Mann was president, and Leon Fontaine was the vice-president.

We went to Ottawa in October of '92 and–I'm sorry, I may end up choking up on you–during our development phases–thank you–we were able to go to–thanks–go to the National War Memorial as a group and place a wreath. And that was the first time, as a recognized group–at that time, Aboriginal veterans were allowed to place a wreath–thank you–at the war memorial.

We went on to develop the organization. It became known as the National Aboriginal Veterans Association. And you'll never see me wear pink again because at that meeting, when it came time to nominate people for the position of president of the new organization, the lady in the pink sweater was nominated. And trust me, I voted for the other guy. But I ended up as the new vice‑president of the National Aboriginal Veterans Association.

We went through all of our stuff that we needed to do–getting it registered and all of that, and we were told then that the executive was to be back for the November 11th. When Sam Sinclair was the president from Alberta, Ken B. Harris was the secretary from BC and Claude Petit was the treasurer from Saskatchewan. So we were 'acrossed' the board and I was the vice‑president.

We went back and I don't know if you've ever marched in one of the reviews for the 11th–I'm tough; I'm a crazy tough, old woman–it crumbled me. I was standing–a Burmese soldier, a man in front of me that had the silver flying cross; Korean War veterans. I stood in history; I was surrounded by a history book. I was okay. Pipes started; I was okay. We made the turn and just like you see: kids coming out to touch you; little Indigenous kids going, wow. I cried all the way up. I'm a softie, really.

We got up there and they came and got Sam and I and took us over to the side to where we would place the wreath. And there was a group of Legion women that called us every name in the book, told us to get the hell out of there, that we were not to be there or what–how were we disrespecting. Sam kept me under control; I didn't kill anybody that day.

We placed the wreath, went to the afterwards. Some guys went back to get it because we had plans for how we were going to take the picture and, you know, all this. And we couldn't bring it back because people had taken their poppies–it was red; it was totally red, covered in poppies.

So this is why this day is so bloody important. You guys did this in '94. You got it rolling. I played–oh, this will be on the record–oh, Lord, I can't. I got Susan Thompson to declare the day in '93. So that's actually the very first time we had a small gathering for Indigenous Veterans Day. Ninety-four, we had a big party because we had this.

I have survived the racism, the misogyny; I have survived the death threats; I have survived the attacks; I have survived having my feathers ripped from my hair, because I believe this is so important. I believe that that young man sitting back there that's going to speak–because of him, we're able to do this. Because of the guys ahead of us, were able to do this.

And knowing the history, knowing the things, knowing the stuff that you don't know, you–knowing the stories that you've never heard, having World War II soldiers–veterans tell me, hey, we got on the train in Montreal and we're coming across, and we're having dinner, and we're having drinks, and we're partying with our comrades, and everything was great, and we get to Winnipeg, to 181 Higgins, to the one on Main Street, too. We get off; we fall in; we march over. The sergeant major calls us to attention and we fall out.

And they've all got–Main Street's all got buses and vans and families and cars waiting to take them wherever they had to go. When the Indigenous soldier asked, well, where's my ride, they said–excuse my language, Lord–you're a fucking Indian; walk. As God is my witness, that's what they were told.

That's why I've put 31 years of my life into seeing this thing happen, and why I'm asking you: please, I really want to give birth. This labour pain is killing me.

So, with that, I will pass it off to you, and excuse me while I blow my nose.

The Chairperson: Randi, thank you so much for your presentation. I appreciate all the heart and soul you've put into this.

Do members of the committee have questions for the presenter?

MLA David Pankratz (Waverley): Randi, you know, we've worked incredibly hard together over the last couple of years. You've taught me a ton about the work that you've done and about the difference that you've made, and so I don't have a question for you today, but I just want to say, on the record, that the work that you have done over the last 30 years has made a positive impact for young folks, people who are just starting their careers in the military, people who are retired veterans from coast to coast to coast have been affected by the positive work that you've been able to do for the military community and beyond.

So I want to thank you for your advocacy over the last three decades-plus.

The Chairperson: Randi, would you like to respond?

R. Gage: I'm sorry?

The Chairperson: Would you like to respond?

R. Gage: All I've got to say is thank you. Thank you for what you're doing. And no matter what has been thrown at you, you've stood with us, and we love you for that.

Mrs. Colleen Robbins (Spruce Woods): I don't have a question, but I just want to thank you for sharing your story. And once this bill has passed, I want you to continue to tell the story, because I think it's very important that we all know the story. [interjection]

The Chairperson: I have to recognize you for that to go on record. So Randi, would you like to repeat that?

R. Gage: Thank you very much, and I will do my best. I will continue to do my best.

Thank you.

Hon. Nahanni Fontaine (Minister of Families): Miigwech, Randi, for your long advocacy and hard work and dedication, navigating through racism and misogyny and all of the things that we navigate through as Indigenous women. So I lift you up for all of that work and for that strength, and you are an elder and a role model in our community, so I lift you up.

I just want to–in my couple of seconds that I have, I just want you to also know and understand it's going to pass standing committee. It still has to pass third reading. And so my hope is that you and your comrades and your folks and your, you know, community, continue to put pressure on those individuals that would get up in the House and talk it out. Because there–we operate on a deadline and a timeline, and that's quickly coming.

So we're–after tonight, we've got one more step. So please keep up the pressure to ensure that this gets passed at third reading.

Miigwech.

The Chairperson: Randi, would you like to respond to Minister Fontaine?

R. Gage: Not to worry. The pressure will be on, and I will be in the gallery. And I had a special shirt I wanted to wear today, and Devin wouldn't let me wear it.

* (18:20)

But, yes, I'm–it's got to happen; it's time. And we'll do our best.

Hon. Ian Bushie (Minister of Natural Resources and Indigenous Futures): Randi, I don't think I have a question; I have more of an appreciation.

I want to thank you, say miigwech to you for being a survivor, a believer and a warrior. For many years, myself, my family, my community, we share the names, we speak the names of veterans from all conflicts, war and peacetime as well, and knowing they not always got the recognition they deserved. And then listening to you talk here, hearing your–and I'm not going to call it a story; I'm going to call it your lived experience–in dealing with this, I can't say that enough other than to just say thank you for being a survivor, a believer and a warrior.

Miigwech.

The Chairperson: Randi, would you like to respond?

R. Gage: Yes, I would.

You're very welcome. You're–and you're very right about not knowing the stories or hearing the stories. And a lot of the things that are out there are not heard.

One thing I heard the other day was that the Aboriginal soldiers, Aboriginal communities, donated land to the government for purposes of whatever. And it wasn't donated; it was appropriated.

And there's a lot of things like that that have never been told and need to be told, just like the story of coming across in a train where you're a buddy today and the next thing you're an effin' Indian. And that's the thing. And, like Tommy Prince, our Canadian Ira Hayes–you have to look at it that way because that was what he was–wanted simply to go home and have a hardware store. Got the grant to get it. But he couldn't sell to the farmers because he was a bloody Indian and he couldn't sell to his community because he was a white man and they didn't want to deal with him. And he said, to hell with everything and went back to the Korean War and became even more highly decorated.

So, miigwech. My prayers are with you. And, yes, I'll keep the pressure on.

The Chairperson: The time for question period has expired.

I will now call on Justin Woodcock.

Justin, please proceed with your presentation.

Justin Woodcock (Private Citizen): Tansi. Justin Woodcock nitsiyikashun. Opaskwayak Cree Nation nitiochin. [Hello. My name is Justin Woodcock, I am from the Opaskwayak Cree Nation.]

My name is Justin Woodcock. I'm a First Nation veteran from Opaskwayak Cree Nation.

I served nearly a decade in the Forces, both in the army and in the navy. And I left the Forces to pursue a career in social work to give back to an organization that had done so much for me. And now I do that work in supporting First Nation veterans at SCO. I bring that up because doing this work, I interact with veterans on a day‑to‑day basis and I hear their needs and I hear their–and I'm here bringing their voice to this table.

Indigenous Veterans Day has a lot of history, a lot of importance, a lot of significance for the First Nation veteran community. There's a couple phases to that. One is the importance of recognizing the complicated history of Canada's relationship with First Nation veterans and their sacrifices to protect Canada and how they were treated when they returned. Randi Gage touched on a lot of those points there, and that's one part of the day is to recognize that complicated history and to honour it.

But another part of that day is also to recognize the proud military achievements of those First Nation soldiers that went above and beyond the call of duty to protect Canada and our values. Randi Gage touched on Tommy Prince. Something that should also be recognized is that he tried to join the Canadian Forces three times before he was allowed in. And he was turned away those previous times just because of his race.

We also have World War I heroes like Francis Pegahmagabow, one of the most effective World War I snipers in the history–the military history there. And it's important that we recognize those folks on the–on that day as well.

But that doesn't stop there. The day has significant meaning for the modern time as well. When we look right now, we see that there's a class-action lawsuit for racism within the Canadian Armed Forces going on right now. It's supposed to open up this month.

This is not ancient history. This is happening now. These veterans that I serve today, the ones that are younger that are my age, younger, they've experienced similar instances while serving.

And–sorry. It's days like this that recognize that sacrifice and recognize that discrimination that they faced while they served, and it's important that's recognized; it's really important. It's important that they know that the government has their back and recognizes what they went through and it was–that they're not alone in this, and that there's a day that they can come together and heal and support each other.

And when I meet veterans and I talk to them about the day, that's what it means for us. And I can tell you how meaningful it is when I go to First Nations, like Brokenhead, Skownan, other First Nations, and they have their own Indigenous Veterans Day celebrations at the schools.

And you see the youth–you see the young ones embracing the history, feeling proud, having a–some role models that they can look up to. These heroes–these people even within their community–Afghanistan heroes that are in the community–they're brought out, they're celebrated, they're recognized amongst the youth. That's important. We need that. The youth need those role models. They need to know that there's a spot for them within the Canadian Armed Forces. And it's days like that that know that there's a spot for them there.

So I wanted to touch on that and that moving forward in solidarity like this, it's about reconciling that complicated history but moving forward in a proud way together, as one. When we have Indigenous Veterans Day celebrations, no one's turned away; everyone's welcome, everyone's celebrated.

And so I think it's important that we recognize that history, honour it and make this happen. And I'm really honoured to be here and share that experience and share those voices with you folks. And it really is a big honour for me to be here and share that with you.

So, miigwech; that's it.

The Chairperson: Thank you for your presentation, Justin. And thank you for your service and for advocating for Indigenous veterans and Indigenous military personnel.

Do members of the committee have questions for the presenter?

MLA Pankratz: Justin, you've become a solid friend, straight up, and I've learned a ton from you over the last couple years since we met. You know, we met at Austin Lathlin-Bercier's memorial; it was a powerful day. And we talked about this, this bill, and the work that you were doing and what you're going to continue to do with SCO, and I just want to say, again, on the record, I cannot thank you enough for the incredible work that you do with community and the advocacy that you do. You change the lives of a lot of people.

And so because I can't go on for too long, I'm just going to leave it there and say thank you on behalf of the office and the military envoy for the Province of Manitoba for everything that you do for the military community that you work with.

Thank you, Justin.

The Chairperson: Justin, would you like to respond?

J. Woodcock: Yes. Thank you, David. I really appreciate your friendship and all the hard work that you've done to make this bill a reality.

But I'd also like to recognize my colleague, Alexis Harrison. I don't do this work alone. It's a part of the team, and it's folks like her as well that make sure that we get the job done and we're on the front line.

I walk tent encampments looking for veterans. And, you know, it really means a lot to me to be here, to represent those voices and to just–to share that lived experience.

Thank you.

Mrs. Robbins: I'd like to thank you, also, for your service and for the great job you're doing in getting everyone to work together, and thank you.

The Chairperson: Justin, would you like to respond?

J. Woodcock: Yes. Thank you.

MLA Robert Loiselle (St. Boniface): Justin, thank you for your service. Thank you for what you've done for our country and what you continue to do.

I know that the previous presenter, Randi Gage, talked about Indigenous children. And as a young veteran, what do you think this bill means for that young generation now that's looking up to veterans like you?

* (18:30)

J. Woodcock: I think it's really important. It's–thinking about my–you know, when you're a youth and you–for me, a little bit about before I joined, I was very intimidated, and I was scared to join. And it wasn't 'til I saw someone like me in uniform that I felt like I could do it.

And so I know that days like this, where we recognize those folks, those Indigenous, Métis, Inuit and First Nation veterans, it's important for the next generation to see that, you know, there's a spot for me there, and I can be–they're like me, and I can be successful there too. And I think that's a really important message that this day sends to those youth.

MLA Fontaine: Miigwech, Justin and to your colleague Alexis for the good work that you folks do. I just want to lift you up and say miigwech.

I know that–I've actually heard about how you go into the encampments and look for our relatives that are there. And I really just want to, like, support and acknowledge and lift up the work that SCO is doing. I see you at so many of our events, powwows, like everything, so I really just want to lift you up and say miigwech and miigwech for your service.

Miigwech.

J. Woodcock: Thank you very much. I really appreciate the kind words.

Mr. Bushie: Justin, thank you for all your great work, your great advocacy that you've done to this point. And I say to this point because this is a passion in you; I can clearly see that. And sometimes when we talk about veterans, Indigenous veterans, we sometimes think that this is something that was 20, 30, 40, 50 years ago. And this is actually real time today, as you've articulated here.

So I applaud you for the work you've done to this point, and I applaud you for the work in acknowledging our young people as well too, that are–that you've engaged who might not necessarily be normally engaged in this discussion and this conversation and this recognition, so they can–themselves could know too that this is something that's with us today. It's not something that only their great-great-grandparents were a part of; it's something that their parents are a part of and something that their siblings and even their children will be a part of at some point in time potentially.

So I lift you up for your advocacy and the work that you've done, and miigwech.

J. Woodcock: Thank you for the kind words. I appreciate it.

The Chairperson: Thank you so much for your presentation.

This concludes the list of presenters I have before me.

* * *

The Chairperson: In what order does the committee wish to proceed with–[interjection] Oh. Fair enough.

We will now proceed with clause by clause of Bill 210.

Does the bill sponsor, the honourable member for Waverley, have an opening statement?

MLA Pankratz: I actually want to start with a story.

In June of 2024, I had the privilege and honour of travelling to Normandy with the Premier (Mr. Kinew), and we visited the cemeteries where so many Canadians, including Indigenous soldiers, are laid to rest. And we were walking along with the headstones beside us in Bény-sur-Mer, and we met a group of young Indigenous students from Manitoba, in France.

And they were there to find the names of their relatives, their ancestors, who had crossed an ocean to fight for freedoms when they themselves would be denied those same freedoms when they came home. And the Premier met with them, and I still remember, and I'll have to paraphrase here a little bit, but he said, You know, always remember that your ancestors were an important part of building this country and fighting for these freedoms, and always remember that you deserve to be a part of it every bit as much as any other Canadian or any other person.

And it's this incredibly powerful moment where the first First Nations Premier was speaking to a group of young Indigenous students about the sacrifices made by their families, by their ancestors, that afforded all of us the life and the freedoms that we have today. And that moment really stuck with me as I was working on this bill and working with the community.

And, you know, this past summer, I read a book, 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act, and it really lays bare the truth that, while Indigenous people were stepping up to defend this country, Canada was enforcing laws ultimately designed to strip them of their culture and their language and their identity. And the Indian Act, it replaced traditional systems of governance, right, with these colonial structures. It banned ceremonies, it imposed restrictions, defined who was and who wasn't legally recognized as Indigenous. It was a system that was ultimately meant to control, not to empower people.

And so you think about that, and in the face of all of that, all that was going on, Indigenous men and women still stood up to serve. And they did it because they believed in protecting their communities, their lands, the people who would come after them.

And so today, as we prepare to pass this bill through the committee, we remember that service. But I would say that remembrance alone isn't enough, and some of our speakers tonight have already touched on this, right. The best way to honour those who served is by continuing that work of reconciliation. And this progress–the recognition has only come through that hard work and advocacy of the folks who are here tonight, as well as many others.

And I do want to take a moment in my statements to again acknowledge Randi Gage and Justin Woodcock, as well as Alexis Harrison, who's here tonight, and the incredible work that you have done–Randi, you know, three decades ago, was the first–or was the one who was having this proclaimed by a then-NDP government at the time.

And Justin, who continues to do amazing worth–work with SCO, has been such a strong voice, not just for this bill, obviously, but for Indigenous veterans across our province, as we've also heard.

So I look very much forward to continuing that good work with both of you. And I also just want to recognize a few other folks that I worked with on this bill. There's Grand Chief Garrison Settee, Grand Chief Jerry Daniels; there was an incredibly impactful conversation with Cathy Merrick at Austin Lathlin-Bercier's memorial, that really informed some of the work that I did on this.

There were a number of elders. I also met with Major-General Chris McKenna, who is the commander at 1 CAD; Lt.-Col. Jody Hanson; BSM Joel Pedersen and Brig.-Gen. Dan Coutts. And I want to thank them all for contributing to this work as well.

Ultimately, you know, Indigenous peoples have always defended this land, from time immemorial. And long before there was a Canada, there was courage, and there was sacrifice, and there was service. And I think by remembering this truth, we honour not only the veterans who served under the Maple Leaf but all those who have stood generation after generation to protect these lands and the people who call them home.

Thank you.

The Chairperson: We thank the member.

Does any other member wish to make an opening statement on Bill 210?

Mrs. Robbins: Today, I proudly stand–or sit–in support of Bill 210, The Indigenous Veterans Day Act.

For far too long, the contributions of Indigenous veterans were overlooked or left out of Canada's story.

This act is an important step toward truth, recognition and reconciliation, ensuring that Indigenous veterans receive the respect and aknowledgement they have always deserved.

I look forward to this bill passing, and attending events for years to come.

Thank you.

The Chairperson: We thank the member.

During the consideration of a bill, the enacting clause and the title are postponed until all other clauses have been considered in their proper order.

Clause 1–pass; clause 2–pass; clause 3–pass; enacting clause–pass; title–pass. Bill be reported.

The hour being 6:39, what is the will of the committee?

Some Honourable Members: Rise.

The Chairperson: Committee rise.

COMMITTEE ROSE AT: 6:39 p.m.