These are territorial prisons. We are about to start developing the North, according to the Charest government. But how will that development work? I think one of the priorities is the structural underdevelopment of the communities.
Will we once again find diamonds, treasures and oil? Will we move the Aboriginal people out without their having a chance to… There won't be any miracles. I think it would be intellectually dishonest to try and convince ourselves this morning that miracles are going to happen.
You know as well as I do that money is the sinews of war. The financial wherewithal that goes with taking your wallet and leaving home to work full-time and earn a living, build self-esteem and see yourself as independent, is absolutely critical in life. By taking that away from them--
For me, the priority is structural development in the communities. You and I will bear witness to what happens in the future, but I would be surprised if northern development considered the realities of the Aboriginal peoples. We will start scrapping rivers, distorting the natural environment and breaking up and cutting back their land so that we can become a wealthy and self-assured Quebec society. Because Quebec is also in the race for autonomy; that should never be forgotten.