Mr. Chair, despite what Ms. Glover has said, opposition members have in fact done their jobs. It's government members who have not done their jobs. If government members had been paying attention, they would have listened to Chief Atleo, who said:
In its current form, part 3 of C-38 clearly represents a derogation of established and asserted first nations rights.
If enacted, it will increase the time, costs and effort for all parties and governments, as first nations will take every opportunity to challenge these provisions.
That's what opposition members, I believe in both the NDP and the Liberal parties, took note of in doing our jobs.
Despite what Ms. Glover is saying, it is the opposition members who are fulfilling their fiduciary responsibilities as members of Parliament to the public, by listening to witnesses and trying to embrace their testimony to ensure their voices are being heard.
Shawn Atleo, as the national chief, is a very important part of Canada's governance, and he's being ignored by the government members. It's opposition members who are giving people an opportunity to comment...people like Shawn Atleo, and the first nations and aboriginal people he represents, and experts like the former Progressive Conservative Minister of Fisheries Tom Siddon, who said these changes are taking the guts out of the Fisheries Act—watering it down and making Swiss cheese out of it. These are not uninformed Canadians.
Ms. Glover, it was Tom Siddon who said it is not becoming of a Conservative government. I don't believe that Ms. Glover's comments are becoming of parliamentarians, to say we're not doing our jobs, when in fact we are.
These are Canadians with important views, who are being railroaded and ignored. We will continue to do our jobs. That's the responsibility we have, and, frankly, Conservative members have the same responsibility. Notwithstanding ministers' offices talking points, they have an opportunity to actually engage their own brains and hearts on some of these things.