Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the comments of the hon. member for North Island-Powell River. I listened to his speech, as I have listened to them all. I suppose one might answer a question with another question.
I suggest, in the scheme of things, that two years is scarcely sufficient time for the B.C. treaty commission to prove its worth, as the member knows, as he listened as I did to the current head of that commission. Two years ago the commission started from scratch to set up a service organization to get the board together and write some policies. Since it only began in 1993 and we are in 1995, it has had scarcely two years which was not to negotiate treaties. It was, as my friend knows, to start the business, develop the expertise, set up the office and interest the First Nations of B.C. in coming forward to negotiate. Since a little more than 70 per cent of the natives in B.C. are involved in the process now, it seems to me we should give them a little time.
I appreciate the member filling me in with respect to the order in council in 1924. I am little confused about his numbers because I believe he said that B.C. had 17 per cent of all reserves in Canada and then went on to use the figure of 14 per cent. I want to ask him about that.
I also want to ask the member whether the election in B.C. is a foregone conclusion. I thought he might bring up the helicopters and the Pearson airport deal, but if he casts his mind back he will realize that the Pearson airport deal was signed in the midst of an election which the government was losing very badly. The helicopter deal was a statement in the red book and in the platform of the Liberal Party before it was signed. Again, it was within months of
the election. I might remind the member that this House had not sat effectively for about a year and a half before that election.