Mr. Speaker, a preliminary agreement has been signed transferring a B.C. highway to the Nisga'a people.
Given the number of conflicts that have arisen in both British Columbia and Quebec these past few years around road access, signing this agreement with the Nisga'as sets a precedent that will be a source of conflict and will cause more roadblocks to be erected.
Thus far, the Bloc Quebecois has been supportive of the agreement with the Nisga'a. However, if a similar agreement were negotiated in Quebec, they would have a problem with that and would probably not go along with it. Why does the Minister of Indian Affairs support this irresponsible precedent and how can the Bloc be in favour?
The Bloc has supported every major government initiative regarding aboriginal people outside Quebec. Interestingly enough,
the Bloc supports the minister on agreements concerning other provinces, when it would object to similar agreements being signed in Quebec.