Madam Speaker, I listened very carefully to the minister. If he wants to blame the Reform Party for anything, he should first do his homework and pay close attention to this debate. He compares the Bloc Quebecois with Reform. Well, when I as a member of this House tabled a bill to limit the interest collected on delinquent mortgages, for example, Reform was not the only opponent. His party was also opposed, because it was eating into the fund, the large amounts put at its disposal by Canada's large banks, the so-called seven sisters.
So he is in no position to throw snowballs at the Reform Party. It is his party that abolished the council on the status of women. What I mean is that, in spite of everything, I recognize that native people have been here for 20,000 years, according to some experts, that they have rights, and that we must recognize these rights. What better way to do so than by signing treaties? I think that the party I represent in this House will oppose the motion tabled by Reform because it is unacceptable.
Some people who have been here for 20,000 years are being denied their very right to exist, while some first- and second-generation Canadians claim that they have all the rights. I feel that all the people here, whatever their origins, have rights, but why deny them to native people? Although I disagree with the minister, I say that we should oppose the motion tabled by the Reform Party because it does an injustice to an important group of fellow citizens.