There have been projects in this country since the creation of this country. How has that benefited first nations people when our little kids are without drinking water, when our little children are without proper homes and access to good, strong schools? We need a lot of schools built in our first nations communities across this country. Trying to wait for some project over here that hasn't worked in the past.... I mean, if that worked so well, why is it not working for first nations people in this country?
We're at a very important moment right now—I get it—where we can try to change our future. However, that doesn't happen by keeping our people from having a voice to say what they need and how we can change our country together. Saying maybe we'll have a project here, maybe you'll get a school or maybe you'll get a house...I don't think that is the way we want to go. Trying to assume that we're going to get all of these big interest projects, that all of a sudden first nations are going to have all these things.... I think our people would beg to differ on that, based on past history.
I think we have an opportunity here to rethink how this country is with first nations people. Let's have that conversation. We ask all of cabinet, all members of Parliament, as well as the Prime Minister, to come and meet with our people face to face; let's dialogue about this during the summer. I've been telling the Prime Minister that, and he has committed to meeting with our leadership across this country. These are the conversations that we have to have on the environment and on how to make our country a better place for everyone, including first nations people.
We're left out of the banking system, for instance. We have to get ministerial loan guarantees to ask for support in some of our communities. People always.... You know, it's out of sight, out of mind. Well, we're here now, and we're becoming stronger and more organized. The status quo is not good enough anymore. Talking about projects and how maybe that will accelerate things...maybe or maybe not. However, I think we need to ask the rights holders that, and they need a seat at this table, just like anybody else.
By ramming this through, you're also.... Follow your own laws. I also say that you're trampling on the rights and laws of many other Canadians as well. They need a voice, and they need the laws that come through this House to make it better for everybody. That means that we make space for each other and that we respect each other. This isn't a way to respect each other. We don't need more colonialism when we have Trump's colonialism at our borders. Ramming something through is not the way to go.
Thank you.