Mr. Speaker, I thank you for giving me the floor. I cannot help it if I am also interested in the native issue. I may have been faster on my feet than the government members. People in this chamber will draw their own conclusion.
The point I would like to raise today for the benefit of the finance minister, and I would like the member for Saint-Jean to comment on this, is the appalling situation of the native people that my colleague referred to. These people have their pride.
They said so to the committee on fisheries and oceans. They want the tools that would enable them to help themselves. My colleague for Saint-Jean pointed out their appalling situation but, on the other hand, the native people are asking us, in other committees, to give them the tools to help themselves.
I know that my colleague also met some First Nations regarding this issue. I would like to hear his comments on this. I know that it is difficult to settle this matter. Right now, I have no authority to do it, but the minister opposite does.
However, I would like my colleague for Saint-Jean to describe, first, how native people could help themselves in the fisheries area.
Second, he mentioned that the average native family income was $7,480. I would like to hear more about this. I know that, last week, the member for Saint-Jean asked the minister a question, but the minister did not say when nor how the situation will be remedied.
The cost of food in remote areas was also mentioned. I do not know if my colleague has more information on this topic, but I would like him to ask the government some pointed questions on this subject.