The member for the Reform Party said this was done behind closed doors. I say to this House that these were the most open closed doors I have ever seen in the 15 years I have been in the Yukon.
There have been many consultations throughout Yukon. The previous government leader of Yukon in giving evidence before the committee mentioned that in the previous government they had done 100 public consultations. The current government leader of Yukon and his government have also done numerous consultations around Yukon in the communities and with various organizations including the Chamber of Commerce and the outfitters and so on.
The Council for Yukon Indians has done extensive consultations with aboriginal and non-aboriginal people in Yukon.
For many of us in Yukon, and for myself not originally coming from Yukon, it has been a very educative process over the last 15 years to watch the development of this issue. What we see tonight with the co-operation of at least three political parties in this House is expressing real democracy for justice, for a historical obligation, long overdue.
I congratulate the minister on his remarks and on his perseverance on this issue. We are showing through these two pieces of legislation an opportunity for Canadians to come together to resolve historical obligations, to fight for real equality of every citizen.
As a Yukoner, not as a member of Parliament, I say that these pieces of legislation bring real equality to every person living in the Yukon and serves as a model for the rest of Canada.
In conclusion, I would like to say there has been much discussion about what we are giving to aboriginal people. This is a fundamental misunderstanding of what this legislation is about and the history of Canada.
As a European politician some time ago said, the land was stolen fair and square.
This is an attempt to redress a wrong to a people. I would also like to correct one other statement that was made. It was that Yukon First Nations peoples have been in that region for 10,000 years. Anthropological evidence will indicate it has been at least 20,000 years.
Surely it is time the people of Canada and this Parliament say it is time for Yukoners, it is time for Yukon First Nations to have what is their right, to have what is their responsibility and for us to stand proudly tonight to support that justice and to see that justice is done.