Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to respond to the question raised on May 4 by the hon. member for Saint-Jean regarding the letter sent by Roger Simon, chairman of the Kanesatake chamber of commerce, dated April 26.
Mr. Simon is blaming the carelessness of the federal government particularly for the collapse of native businesses and for the alleged misappropriation of federal subsidies by the band council in an unstable situation where public security is concerned.
Public security in the Oka-Kanesatake area is the responsibility of le ministère de la sécurité publique du Québec. It is la sûreté du Québec that provides security services to all residents of this area.
The Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development met on several occasions with Grand Chief Peltier to discuss properties bought by the federal government since the Oka crisis of 1990. These discussions were conducted in order to establish a unified land base.
The minister has proposed various solutions in order to settle the transfer of properties to the Mohawk Council of Kanesatake. This is a very complex file. It remains a priority and requires a mutually acceptable solution to all parties involved.
Regarding the alleged misappropriation of economic development funds, the band has flexibility to manage the funds according to the agreement signed with the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. The Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development does not interfere with the day to day business of a band's operations. Such interference would be paternalistic. Band councils and chiefs are accountable to the band members who elect them.
Those economic development funds are included in the recovery plans signed between the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and the Mohawk Council of Kanesatake last January.