Mr. Speaker, I thank hon. members who participated in the debate today on Bill C-402.
I would like to respond to some of the comments. Bill C-49, the land management act, deals only with 14 bands and that there are just about 700 native bands from coast to coast to coast. It certainly does not affect the Penticton Indian Band whatsoever. Therefore Bill C-49 does not respond to the needs of the people from my riding.
I appreciate very much the parliamentary secretary's passing along his regret regarding the outcome of this tragic incident. I will convey that to my constituents. I will also convey to my constituents today that the Progressive Conservative Party and the New Democratic Party support in principle the eviction of 51 families from the Driftwood mobile home park in Penticton. I find it quite regrettable today that they could not see there was a great deal of support for Bill C-402 which directly deals with the problem faced by these families.
I would have to argue with those members opposed to Bill C-402 that striking another committee to look at the issue does not help at this point. As I mentioned, the establishment of some of these mobile home parks in my riding goes back 20 years. Members pointing out that the Indian Act is flawed are absolutely correct.
However, Bill C-402 deals specifically with an emergency situation and it also brings equality to renters regardless of whether they are native or non-native. It does not matter. Bill C-402 brings equality to all people who find themselves in the position of renting land.
In the House of Commons there are many of us who rent apartments or homes in Ottawa. If we found ourselves in the situation the people of Driftwood mobile home park found themselves in we would have the Ontario provincial tenancy act there to protect our rights as renters. That is what Bill C-402 does. That is what we are attempting to do with this legislation.
I think it is wrong and meanspirited for members of other parties to say they will not come to the aid of the people of the driftwood mobile home park. I also point out that on the horizon there are four more mobile home parks in my riding that will face a similar situation. We will not be talking about 51 families, we will be talking about 200 families.
What will the federal government do at that point? I hope its response will not be to strike a committee and seek consultation across the country. We need action and we need it now. That is what Bill C-402 would have done.