Mr. Speaker, I was a little bemused at the secretary's remarks with respect to the hon. member for Yorkton-Melville's question on treaty cards and DNA. I would expect that a secretary of state could recognize a bit of sarcasm when he sees it.
The secretary must be aware that there is a stampede of people who have just a few drops of aboriginal blood trying to get their hands on treaty cards. If he thinks this is not a problem, he should consult with the band councils that have to deal with this and the problems created by Bill C-31. The secretary has to be aware that treaty cards have become articles of commerce. If he is not aware of this, he should not be secretary of state. If he is, he should not pretend to misunderstand the member for Yorkton-Melville.
With regard to the question of apartheid and who has it and who does not, it does strike me as curious that while South Africa is doing away with apartheid, the secretary of state advocates and applauds the establishment of homelands within the Dominion of Canada. I think we should be moving beyond all of that and be talking about one Canada, not a whole bunch of little enclaves divided on the basis of race and history. I know all that was irrelevant to Bill C-107, but it was a response to the irrelevant remarks of the secretary of state.