Greenpeace Canada  Mr. Speaker, if I understood the minister's statement there is a difference between the international Greenpeace organization and Greenpeace Canada. If I understood the context, is it allowable to transfer funds from the one organization to the other?

Greenpeace Canada  Mr. Speaker, I misunderstood the intent. The answer is that I do not wish to make a statement at this time.

Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Suspension Act  Mr. Speaker, there will be objections whenever boundaries are redrawn. I appreciate that. British Columbians have had knowledge of these changes for nine days. Discussions were going on in this parliamentary atmosphere on the Hill wanting to kill this process before British Columbians were even made aware of what the provincial boundary redistribution was.

Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Suspension Act  Mr. Speaker, the collective memory on the Charlottetown accord in British Columbia is still very much there. The province voted two-thirds against the provisions of the Charlottetown accord. The collective memory on the promise and guarantees concerning redistribution is very much in the forefront.

Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Suspension Act  Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to rise today to speak to and to oppose the provisions of the legislation before us in Bill C-18. One has to ask what precipitated the government's decision to attempt to suspend the legitimate work of the federal electoral boundaries commission.

The Budget  Mr. Speaker, I rise to participate in the debate following the first budget presentation in this, the 35th Parliament. My constituents expect me to bring some new perspective and sanity to how government spends the taxpayers' dollars and to what effect and purpose. My west coast riding covers one half of Vancouver Island's coastline as well as one half of the mainland coastline of British Columbia.

Forestry  Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Natural Resources. The Canadian government recently funded a multimillion dollar model forest in Mexico. Can the minister assure the House that at the upcoming month-end bilateral conference in Mexico City the government will not commit further forest research or other forestry funding to our new NAFTA partner?

Forestry  I have a supplementary question, Mr. Speaker. Mexico is running a budget surplus while we are struggling with a large deficit. Does the minister agree that this government should not be funding forestry projects outside Canada?

The Environment  Mr. Speaker, the Commission on Resources and the Environment is a B.C. government project to review and recommend solutions to land use conflicts on Vancouver Island. These talks fell apart. A community report was submitted which recommended 12 per cent of Vancouver Island be protected with minimal loss of employment, the creation of nine new parks and a continuation of community planning initiatives.

Aboriginal Affairs  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the minister for his answer. I would ask him to insist that Stewart, B.C. be brought into the negotiations in northwestern British Columbia.

Aboriginal Affairs  Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. The Canadian Federation of Municipalities represents an important level of government and is especially sensitive to local concerns. The federation recently recommended to the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples that municipalities must be a party to the negotiations of land claims and aboriginal self-government.

Indian Affairs  Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister. As a lawyer and a former Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development can you provide the House today with a legal definition of inherent right to self-government as it relates to federal authority?

Indian Affairs  Mr. Speaker, I have a question I would like to ask the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister provide us with his definition of inherent right to self-government as it applies to federal authority?

Speech From The Throne  Mr. Speaker, a thank you is in order. We have a new Speaker in the House and a new speaker team and hopefully we are entering into a new era in the House of Commons. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the voters of North Island-Powell River who have given me the opportunity to represent them in this House.