Mr. Speaker, the hon. member has raised several points. I can tell him that, yes, he is right about the multi-ethnic society. I myself have seen the high numbers of aboriginal people in the culturally mixed city of Vancouver.
The aboriginal people are a bit fed up with trying to gain recognition. They have gained cultural recognition, but when it comes to business and finance, to recognition of their right to territorial self-government, to total financial autonomy, the path is a rougher one.
The motion before us is very clear. It asks the government not to enter into any binding trilateral agreement. This means that, in the negotiations with the Nisga'a where we are in the final stages of negotiation right now, if a conclusion is reached they are being told not to sign.
Why not? Because there will be elections in a year, in order to respect the views of British Columbians on this issue as expressed by both major provincial opposition parties. Clearly, totally political motives.
As I was just saying, and I will repeat it here, it is not acceptable for aboriginal negotiations to be held hostage, whether the negotiating process as a whole, or the beginning of the process, or the signature stage. Everything must proceed as set out in the British Columbia Treaty Commission. It absolutely must continue.
This past summer I met with the Chilcotin, the Carrier-Sekani and the Nisga'a, and I have seen the destruction of their forests, both from the air and on the ground. I feel it is urgent for these matters to be settled at the fundamental level, so that agreement may be reached once and for all to remedy this injustice.
It is my feeling that the process currently in place in B.C. is working very well and will lead to a settlement. The motion before
us is quite simply aimed at slowing down the entire process, and that is why we are opposed to it.