Mr. Speaker, my question is for the hon. Minister of Fisheries and Oceans who as previously demonstrated speaks officially for the government on the Kemano completion project.
In a letter to Chief Marvin Charlie of the Cheslatta band dated February 22, 1994, the minister clearly stated that only native groups would be considered eligible to receive federal intervener funding required to participate effectively in the Kemano completion project.
Is it the decision of the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, and indeed the decision of this government, that native concerns carry far more legitimacy than non-native concerns in regard to Kemano and therefore natives should be the only groups entitled to federal intervener funding?