First, let me say this. I echo my statements. I am worried about Canada right now. I'm worried as a leader and as a founder of Manitoba. Our people brought Manitoba and western Canada into Confederation. We paid an ultimate price for that and we still suffer over that. However, my issue here, when you look at it, is that we need to come together. I understand there are Conservatives and Liberals who will be supporting this. I commend both of you because, at the end of the day, we're in trouble in this country.
If you want to know who are the worst treated anywhere, it would be the Métis. We are never invited anywhere. We are rights-bearing, we're in the Constitution of this country, and we're looking through the windows all the time, seeing everybody else negotiate. We're at a stage now to finalize our treaty, which will, hopefully, change the 154 years of waiting.
Consultation is going to be fundamental. I'll give you a good example. I know Conservatives are in the economic engine world. When you look at the procurement system you have right now in Canada, there's a 5% set-aside already in place. When you talk about multi billions, it does make a massive impact with employment, jobs, opportunity and businesses. If you could expand that even better in the context of this agreement, how is big industry going to come in there?
Let's understand and let's be frank with each other here. When industry comes, there are shareholders behind this. A lot of people are putting a lot of their money into these businesses, which come to invest in the multi billions. There is a risk factor for all of them. If they see something that potentially will be a risk, they won't want to put their money in there. They need the trust and responsibility—for us to give up our possession and that we will support it to the end—to make sure it's viable, workable and profit-making for everyone, including our country of Canada.
When we look at it in the long run, the consultation issue needs clarity. Who is the advisory council going to speak to? Who is it going to invite to sit at the table? What powers does it have? Is this for show? Will it have some authority? When we sit down with private industry, are we going to be assured that there is going to be a set-aside? Are we going to be assured that private industry does not look at the bottom purse only, but actually looks at what part of the indigenous relationship will be in there? Who will be in there and how much of that will be shared with them?
I support this country with all my heart. I want to make it very clear that I will support Bill C-5 on the premise that I have to make sure this country overcomes this economic war. Yes, five years is a long time. I know that in two years, we're trying to get a green light to go ahead with the project.... This is a five-year opportunity that exists for Canada, as a government, to do something right or wrong—hurt us or not hurt us—or really make us grow.
I thank you for that question, but there are areas in there that can easily be fixed. The Prime Minister can call a meeting so quickly, as he did with all the premiers and territorial leaders in this country. He can do the same for us and probably in two days we can have this thing debated, screamed out, yelled at and we can come to a conclusion of what we all believe would make us comfortable.