Should this motion pass, I hope the government will take note that the committee is calling on the government to take action to support moving forward on matrimonial real property, but to support it in a way that aboriginal women want it supported. We've heard many times, through Wendy Grant-John's report and several other forums, that they want it moved forward, but aboriginal women want it done in cooperation and in consultation with their views.
What I'm extraordinarily struck by in this discussion is the fact that we have heard from aboriginal women, in a whole variety of forums, on what they need and what they want for their communities. They want schools for their children. They want adequate housing. I'm thinking of what's going on in St. Theresa Point in the province of Manitoba right now, which is very much an outcome of crowded housing and inadequate water. They want opportunities for their children. They want opportunities for themselves.
Aboriginal women know what they want, yet we're hearing that we know better. We'll tell them what's better for them and we'll do it.
That's not the way to go. Nobody wants to have something imposed upon them as a priority when they know what their needs and priorities are.
I hope the government will take action. I hope the government will move forward on this issue. I hope they will do it right. I hope they will do it by listening to and consulting with the communities, but not telling them what's best for them.