[Editor's Note: Member spoke in Inuktitut.]
I am pleased to respond to the question raised by the hon. member for Jonquière on March 18. The answer to his question about the federal government's strategy for implementing the recommendations made in the Human Rights Commission's report can be found in the red book, otherwise known as "Creating Opportunity: the Liberal Plan for Canada".
He has to understand that it took many years to get to the stage where we are now starting to discuss self-government issues with the aboriginal groups of Canada. It is going to take some time to get agreement from the different aboriginal groups whether they are Indian, Inuit or Métis. He has to understand it is going to take some time. It took us an awful lot of time to get to the stage of what he calls complete confusion. It is going to take a while to try to sort out that confusion. I ask the hon. member to be patient and assure him that we are working on those things.
The federal government's red book has identified many of the same issues as those outlined in the commission's report: the aboriginal right to self-government, land claims, the Indian Act and aboriginal justice. These are priority areas which the federal government has dedicated itself to working on in partnership with aboriginal people. Together we must find solutions that will lead to improvement in the economic and social conditions in First Nations communities.
The federal government is acting on the premise that the inherent right to self-government is an existing right in the Constitution. The Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, as I said earlier, has initiated a discussion process with aboriginal leaders and leaders of the provincial and territorial governments.
Following these discussions the federal government intends to translate its policy intent into concrete action. When aboriginal people assume more control over their own lives, we will be in a much better position to make the kind of changes that will work best in our communities.