Mr. Speaker, that is an excellent question. We send observers all over the world, most recently to observe an election in Chiapas, Mexico. In some cases we do not follow these rules within our own borders. That is reprehensible.
I have been a member of a municipality. I have voted in municipal elections. I have voted in provincial elections. I have voted and participated in federal elections. Otherwise I would not be here. I have never had anybody in any municipal, provincial or federal election I have been involved in as a voter, observer or participant ever question the results at the end of the night.
In the 1993 election an Edmonton riding was decided on as little as four or five votes. At the end of a judicial recount everybody went away satisfied that it was an expression of democracy. Why can most Canadians have that sense of confidence but as far as members across the way are concerned people living on reserves do not have to abide by the same standards? I do not understand. The people who live on those reserves want to have the same sense of fairness, justice and confidence in their systems as we have in ours.
Until that happens, when we talk about self-government we are getting way ahead of the pack. We have to make sure that there is democratic and fiscal accountability in place first.