Debates of Feb. 13th, 1998

Supply

[Walt Lastewka, Liberal, St. Catharines, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am sorry, but it is Friday afternoon.

I welcome this opportunity to respond to the motion of the hon. member for Qu'Appelle. The motion urges the government to introduce measures in the upcoming budget to ensure that every Canadian has an opportunity to share in new prosperity.

Indeed, creating opportunity for Canadians has been a hallmark of this government since it took office. Over the last four years we have worked with Canadians to overcome our nation's economic challenges and to put in place a strong foundation for success in the knowledge based economy of the new millennium.

It is clear that when this government first took office the deficit was hovering around $42 billion.

[Ken Epp, Reform, Elk Island, AB]

Talk about the debt.

[Walt Lastewka, Liberal, St. Catharines, ON]

Something had to be done about the deficit. My colleague across the way wants to talk about the debt but I am sure he understands that you work on the deficit first and then on the debt.

Canada is poised to be a leader in this new economy. We have put our fiscal house in order. Interest rates are at historic lows and our inflation rate is among the lowest in the industrialized world. From a trade standpoint, we are one of the most open economies in the world. We have many improvements to make in terms of trade. We must get into the details and make sure the rules of trade are well understood and applied.

We have an opportunity to build upon this economic foundation to create a knowledge economy for the 21st century. We have the people and the resources, we have the institutions and we have research excellence. But having such assets is not enough. We all understand that. We must mobilize our resources toward a clear objective of being the best in the world.

When Parliament convened in September, our government set out its priorities for seizing the opportunities presented by the new economy. Our priorities focused on setting the conditions to create jobs and wealth in economic sectors ranging from high technology to services and primary resources.

One of our key goals is to make Canada the most connected country in the world and to make sure Canadians have access to the electronic highway and information economy by the year 2000.

Connecting Canadians is essential for jobs and growth. By being the most connected nation in the world, we will be helping youth, workers and firms acquire the skills needed for the knowledge economy. Improving competitiveness and productivity of Canadian firms in all sectors of the economy is most important. It is a real must that we make Canada a choice location for investment and create new markets and opportunities in a global economy. We must open these opportunities to our rural areas and the remote areas of our country. This includes our aboriginal communities.

Connecting Canadians will allow us to build from strength. It is well recognized that we have the overall best communications infrastructure among the G-7 nations. We are among the leaders in terms of penetration, quality, market development and rates. We have the lowest rates in the G-7.

Connecting Canadians will also redefine how governments provide services and interact with citizens. It will open new ways for citizens to express their views in a democracy.

Connecting Canadians has a strong social, cultural and unity element. It brings citizens together from coast to coast to coast in either official language. It gives our creative community a new vehicle for cultural expression.

We have already put in place many of the pieces for the connecting Canadians agenda. These initiatives embrace our government's commitment to help all Canadians access the information highway and develop the skills to use it no matter where they are.

There is the community access program, better known as CAP. By the year 2000-01 every Canadian rural community with more than 400 people will be plugged into the Internet. That is over 5,000 communities.

Our community access program is giving people in Canada's remote areas access to municipal, provincial and federal information services. It is helping them to learn the skills needed to compete in an information based economy. It is becoming a focal point for community partnerships and building on ramps to the information highway.

Another initiative is SchoolNet. By the year 1999 this joint program with the provincial governments and the private sector will make Canada the first country in the world to have all its schools and libraries connected to the Internet. SchoolNet is also about content and connecting Canadians.

Our SchoolNet web site includes a collection of Internet based educational services and resources for both teachers and students. It includes career guides and university and college course calendars, information readily available at their homes. There are thousands of teacher designed projects and lesson plans and virtual tours of institutions that range from the Louvre to the Canadian Museum of Civilization.

The SchoolNet digital collections program is also training young Canadians to provide innovative education material on line. To date, young Canadians across the country have participated in projects to digitize some 180 collections of historical and cultural significance.

Computers for schools is another initiative. Working in partnership with provincial governments and private sector partners, including the Telephone Pioneers, we are recycling used computers in schools and libraries. Later today the Prime Minister will celebrate the delivery of the 50,000th computer under this program. We have challenged corporate Canada to help us reach a target of some 250,000 computers by the year 2000. This program will allow people from all walks of life to have access to computers and to be able to learn about computers at a very young age. This is a must for the future.

The student connection program will hire 2,000 university and college students to help some 50,000 small and medium size businesses get connected to the Internet and train them how to use the Internet for their business. Many of the SMEs are learning that by being more flexible and being able to use the Internet they are actually getting into more business and more exports. The students have the opportunity to earn wages to defray their education costs while gaining valuable work experience with a community business.

Another initiative designed to help Canadian youth find jobs is the national graduate register. This Internet database is already becoming a valuable way for young people to post their resumés and for employers to find the skilled young people they need. It is getting more than 32,000 hits per day. May I repeat that it is getting 32,000 hits a day.

In the months ahead Canadians can look forward to new initiatives to expand our agenda for connecting Canadians and to build on the successes we have achieved and the partnerships we have forged with the provinces and with private enterprise.

Canada is well on its way to becoming a world-class connected country. We are accelerating our efforts to be the best in the world. Connecting Canadians is an integrated package where the whole is greater than the sum of its components and each element helps build the capacity of the others.

The agenda will enable Canada to be the recognized and acknowledged as the most connected country in the world. It will enable us to create new opportunities for learning and cultural expression, job creation and economic growth; economic growth by being aware and being right up to date on trade around the world, being up to date on technology around the world, and being closely connected with research being done around the world.

In a knowledge based economy our most important resources are people. That is why connecting Canadians is very important. It is about empowering Canadians and enabling them to take full advantage of all the economic, cultural, social and educational opportunities that the knowledge economy offers us.

[Gordon Earle, NDP, Halifax West, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to add a commentary with respect to the comments made by the previous speaker.

He spoke in detail about connecting Canadians. I would like to inform him that this morning I connected with some Canadians. I connected with some Canadians on the grounds outside this House. They were members of the Ottawa-Carleton Health Coalition.

These people are very concerned about the cuts in health care and the effect on the medicare system. Their theme was to put the heart back into medicare. This gathering was intended to attract members of Parliament, to have them there to hear the concerns. I did not notice too many members of Parliament but certainly those of us who were there did hear the concerns of connecting in a real way with Canadians.

It is all well and good to talk about technology and connecting Canadians through technology. I note that the hon. member mentioned 32,000 hits a day. To me that would certainly illustrate the high degree of unemployment and the high degree of need out there if 32,000 people a day are trying to contact people through this computer system.

I would like to hear the hon. member's comments with respect to connecting with Canadians in a way that deals with restoring medicare funding to the provinces to the previous level, enforcing the provisions of the Canada Health Act and the elimination of C-91 so as to reduce the cost of prescription drugs. How does the government intend to connect with Canadians in that way?

[Walt Lastewka, Liberal, St. Catharines, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am sure the member opposite understands when there are 32,000 hits a day those are not only people looking for jobs, but employers searching the web to interview people.

That is what is happening today. Employers, whenever they have time to search the Internet, scan it to get resumés and information on people who are looking for jobs. It makes it easier for them. We put it in place so that the people looking for jobs and the employers who are going to hire the people can do so very quickly.

On the matter of C-91 we are in a period where information is required. The regulations have been gazetted. We have another two weeks to go before the end of the gazetting. I make it very clear that the C-91 debate was held openly. Almost 200 witnesses were in attendance. The member's party was absent most of the time. As far as I am concerned there was very little attendance by his party.

[Christiane Gagnon, Bloc, Québec, QC]

Mr. Speaker, since I started to speak, I thought there might have been another motion. I thought we were going to debate poverty, offer solutions, and see the government perhaps react to some of the suggestions we made to it during the debate.

I note that the hon. member across the floor has named several government programs, and that is exactly what we deplore, the fact that there have been $42 billion in cuts to provincial transfer payments for social assistance, health and education. At the same time, that same government is going to interfere in those same areas, which are provincial areas of jurisdiction.

We ask the hon. member if it would not be desirable for the provinces to be given back the amounts taken from them in the shameful cuts that have been made at the expense of the most disadvantaged members of the population, and of the population as a whole.

[Walt Lastewka, Liberal, St. Catharines, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I see the member wants it both ways. Get involved but do not get involved. During the election it was made very clear that 50% would go against the debt and tax reduction and 50% would be spent on social programs and targeted programs for the good of Canadians, and that is the program for the government.

Canadians have said that over and over despite some people not agreeing with it. Canadians have said get rid of the deficit, work on the debt, but spend money on social programs and target programs.

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)]

It being 1.30 p.m., it is my duty to indicate to the House that the deliberations on the motion are now terminated.

The House will now proceed to the consideration of Private Members' Business as listed on today's Order Paper.

Louis Riel Day

[Suzanne Tremblay, Bloc, Rimouski—Mitis, QC]

moved:

That, in the opinion of this House, the government should revoke the verdict of “guilty of high treason” pronounced on Louis Riel on August 1, 1885, and commemorate him by declaring November 16 of each year to be Louis Riel Day throughout Canada.

Mr. Speaker, this motion is to stress the importance of Louis Riel and his role in the fight for the rights of the Metis, francophones and westerners in Canada.

It is very much an issue, as the importance of resolving the Louis Riel issue was recognized in the Statement of Reconciliation between the federal government and the aboriginal peoples published on January 7.

Indeed, in this statement, the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development wrote, and I quote:

No attempt at reconciliation with Aboriginal people can be complete without reference to the sad events culminating in the death of Métis leader Louis Riel. These events cannot be undone; however, we can and will continue to look for ways of affirming the contributions of Métis people in Canada and of reflecting Louis Riel's proper place in Canada's history.

I would like these fine words to be more than just talk for a change. Ever since coming to this place, I have been making representations to move the issue along and hopefully resolve the issue of Louis Riel's unfair conviction by moving, to date, four bills and one motion.

Each time, the government and the Liberal members of this place lauded my good intentions but defeated my every initiative. Each time, they said it was important something be done without ever specifying what this something should be or when it should be done.

Some even stooped to party politics, urging Metis groups not to support these initiatives on account of the fact they were put forward by a Bloc Quebecois member. They promised them that they would act. I would not play that game and publicly stated, on television, that I would support any initiative to fully clear Louis Riel. I also offered to withdraw my private member's bill as soon as a government bill was introduced.

But the Liberal government would rather continue playing its hypocritical game. This government claims to be open to all cultures, boasts about understanding and representing all Canadians, drafts statements of reconciliation with aboriginal peoples, but at the same time continues to ignore Metis demands in refusing to pardon and clear Louis Riel.

All parties in the House, however, say they want to pardon Louis Riel, and the list of their efforts to do so over the past 15 years is a long one.

In 1983 and 1984, two bills were introduced by the Conservative member for Edmonton East, Mr. Yurko. In 1984, two bills were introduced by the NDP member for Regina—Lumsden, Mr. Benjamin. In November 1985, on the 100th anniversary of Louis Riel's death by hanging, the Liberal member for Edmonton East, now the Minister of Canadian Heritage, also called for Louis Riel's pardon. In 1987, a bill was introduced by the NDP member for Kamloops, Mr. Riis. In 1989, the NDP member for Comox—Alberni, Mr. Skelly, introduced a motion calling for Louis Riel to be recognized as one of the Fathers of Confederation.

In 1992, the biannual Liberal Party convention passed a resolution concerning Louis Riel but, in 1997, it voted against a bill introduced by a Bloc member. On March 9, 1992, the House of Commons unanimously passed a motion introduced by the then Minister responsible for Constitutional Affairs, Joe Clark, a Conservative.

Mr. Clark's motion, while highly laudable, was only a first step towards Louis Riel's pardon. Although the motion recognized Riel's role as the founder of Manitoba, it referred only briefly to his death.

Yet Riel led the same fight for the rights of Saskatchewans as he did for Manitobans. The only difference between these two struggles was that, in 1884 and 1885, the federal government decided to send in the army rather than negotiate with the population, thus causing a bloody confrontation, which culminated in the rigged trial of Riel and his death by hanging.

The treatment of Louis Riel is a very powerful symbol for the Métis people. With his death, the Métis lost all their rights, and recognition of these rights is inextricably linked with restoring their dignity. For, beyond land and monetary claims, a people's pride is bound up with their culture and history. Only a full pardon for Louis Riel will restore his honour and begin the healing process for the Métis people.

For the benefit of our viewers and of my colleagues who are new to Parliament, I will provide a brief portrait of Louis Riel so they may understand why, 113 years after his death and 154 years after his birth, this man is still the subject of so much talk. By the way, there is a snow sculpture at the exit just opposite Parliament of Louis Riel by the artist who did the statue of Louis Riel that is now behind the Manitoba legislature.

He was born in St. Boniface on October 22, 1844, the son of Jean-Louis Riel, whose grandmother was a Chipewa, and Julie de Lagimodière, whose mother was Indian. He was the oldest of a family of 11 and was sent to school at the Petit Séminaire de Montréal between 1858 and 1865. He was a gifted student, always the first in his class. He learned Greek, Latin, French, English and Cree.

In 1866, he returned to the Red River region and arrived in St. Boniface in July 1868. On his return, he discovered strong animosity between the newly arrived English Protestant colonists wanting to control the colony with the help of the central government and the Metis, French Catholics and English settlers already there.

That same year, the federal government bought the rights over the western territories from the Hudson's Bay Company. Unfortunately, it did not bother preparing the way for the change the jurisdiction and waiting for the inhabitants' approval of the new policy.

At the time, the 10,000 Metis in the Red River region lived as an independent people. They traded with the States more than they did with Canada. When their land was handed over to people in the east without any notice, their national pride was sorely hurt.

The situation was exacerbated by the arrival of the government surveyors, who imposed the new arrangement arrogantly, dividing up the lands, keeping the best for themselves or their friends and intimating that the legitimate owners would soon have to hand over their farms to the English colonists from the east.

The Métis decided to defend themselves, calling upon 21-year- old Louis David Riel, whom they trusted, to lead them. Riel took up the cause of his compatriots, protested against the surveyors' actions, and made claims against the federal Parliament.

In December 1869, the Hudson's Bay Company ceased to administer the country. Louis Riel then formed a provisional government, with Métis, English and French members, which was later approved by the cabinet in Ottawa. The federal government promised complete amnesty and compliance with the Métis' demands, but those promises were never kept.

Strong action on the part of Riel and the Métis and their list of rights forced the federal government of the day to grant provincial status to part of this territory, namely the district of Assiniboine, rather than make the west a mere territory under a governor appointed by Ottawa.

The 1870 Manitoba Act conferred bilingual status on the province's laws and courts, a dual denominational school system, and a legislative council.

In October 1871, supporters of annexation with the U.S. crossed the border and seized the post of Pembina. Riel recruited and organized a company of armed horsemen to defend the borders.

In 1872, Riel had a $5,000 price put on his head; he was accused of the murder of Thomas Scott, who had been sentenced to death by the provisional government. This forced him into exile in the United States.

In October 1873, Riel was elected to represent Provencher, and went to plead his case at Ottawa. This became impossible because he was under the threat of death or arrest.

When he was re-elected in February 1874, Riel went to Ottawa. He entered Parliament on March 30, disguised in a hood and escorted by the member for Rimouski, Jean-Baptiste-Romuald Fiset, and signed the register. He was expelled under a motion tabled by the Ontario Orangemen. In September 1874, he was again re-elected for Provencher, but was expelled from the House a second time. In February 1875, Prime Minister Mackenzie granted him amnesty, provided he went into exile for five years.

In 1876, Riel was committed, first in Montreal and then in Quebec City, for hallucinations, believing he had been entrusted with a divine mission to defend the Métis. He returned west in 1878. In 1881, he settled in Montana, where he married Marguerite Monet and fathered three children.

From 1880 on, the Métis sent numerous petitions to the federal government, which was delaying the return of titles to their properties. The Métis were afraid of losing their lands to Canadian Pacific.

In 1884, the Métis and Indians of Saskatchewan called on Riel to help them defend their rights, as he had done so well for the people of Manitoba in 1869. Faced with the Conservative government's apathy, the Métis decided to take action to end their economic woes. They created a small republic and launched a peaceful protest to have it recognized.

On December 16, 1884, representatives of the people of Saskatchewan sent the federal government a 25-clause petition setting out their claims and grievances. They requested permission to sent delegates to Ottawa to defend their rights. These representatives would be able to conclude an agreement for the eventual entry of their territory, as a province, into Confederation. At that time, Saskatchewan had 60,000 inhabitants, and Manitoba had 12,000 at the time of its entry into Confederation.

The reaction of the central government to the reasonable claims of Saskatchewans was to send in the army to subdue them, in order to be able to hand over their lands to the railway companies and colonists from the east. Since the federal government was losing interest in their cause, the Métis and Indians rose up and won a few victories, but the troops sent by Ottawa defeated Riel at Batoche and regained control of the territory. Riel was taken prisoner on May 15, 1885.

On November 16, 1885, at the age of 41, Louis David Riel, hero of the Métis, was hanged, after a trial marked by irregularities. In December, at the insistence of his family, his body was moved to Saint-Vital in Manitoba and buried in the cemetery of the Saint-Boniface cathedral.

Because justice was not fully done in the case of Louis Riel, I have, since being elected to Parliament, introduced bills and this motion.

On December 10, 1996, my bill was defeated by a slim majority of 112 to 103. This remarkable support, despite the party line imposed by the Liberal government, is a clear indication that there are a growing number of members in the House who recognize the validity of Louis Riel's cause.

Even our friends from the Reform Party recently put up a picture of Louis Riel in their caucus room, because he was a western pioneer.

Canadians and Quebeckers must realize that, had it not been for Louis Riel, Canada's borders would stop at the border on the west side of Ontario. Therefore, I ask the unanimous consent of the House to make this motion a votable item.

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)]

Is the hon. member for Rimouski—Mitis asking for unanimous consent to make this a votable motion?

[Suzanne Tremblay, Bloc, Rimouski—Mitis, QC]

Yes.

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)]

Does the House give unanimous consent for this to become a votable motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Some hon. members]

No.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is with pleasure that I address Motion No. 108 which would revoke Louis Riel's conviction and declare a day in his honour.

Over the last two decades, the issue of Louis Riel and the recognition that he deserves have often been raised in this House. Given his great involvement in the building of this country, it would certainly be appropriate to better highlight his role as a builder of our nation and founder of the Metis movement. Such recognition would go a long way toward giving Louis Riel a status more in line with his remarkable achievements.

Our government continues to expend time and energy to find ways to heal the unfortunate events of the past while also trying to find appropriate ways to honour Louis Riel's memory in contemporary terms.

It is only through positive and progressive measures that we can truly pay homage to one who warrants such recognition.

Riel was a unique person, who deserves to be remembered for everything he did for Canada and for the Metis nation.

Riel was educated in theology and law. He was fluent in English, French, Greek, Latin and Cree. He was an elegant and polished statesman who directed the negotiations with the Government of Canada on the entry of Manitoba and the Northwest Territories into the Dominion of Canada.

He was a tireless defender of the rights of Metis and of all the other residents of the territories. It was his hope to see them take their place in Canadian society and enjoy the same rights and privileges as all other Canadians.

Under Riel's leadership, the Metis from the Red River adopted, in 1870, a list of rights to be protected—freedom of religion, language rights, minority rights. They used that list during the negotiations with the Government of Canada to have Rupert's Land and the Northwest Territories included in the Dominion.

The Manitoba Act which Riel was instrumental in negotiating provided for certain guarantees for Metis people, including schooling and religious rights as well as recognition of French and English language rights. The rights of other citizens were also clearly set out in the list of rights.

This was Riel's vision of a united country with each citizen participating on an equal footing.

After Manitoba joined the Canadian federation, the constituents of Provencher, in that same province, elected Riel by acclamation, on three occasions, as their member of Parliament in the House of Commons.

The Metis also called on him to ensure the respect of their fundamental rights in the part of the Northwest Territories that later became Saskatchewan.

Louis Riel dedicated his life to protecting the Metis, and he paid the ultimate price for leading a movement to have the rights and the interests of the Metis protected. He understood their concerns, and it was clear in his mind what place they were entitled to in the Canadian federation.

As most in the House would agree, Riel's accomplishments and contributions to the building of this nation as a free, independent and united country are many. Given these significant contributions, governments have over the years honoured Riel in a number of ways.

In 1970 a postage stamp was issued in his commemoration. Cultural performances have been funded over the years, including the back to Batoche days celebrations which Metis view as a sacred event.

On March 10, 1992, a special resolution was passed in this House to honour the unique and historical role Riel played as the founder of Manitoba and his contribution to Confederation.

On May 16, 1996, thanks to a significant financial contribution by the government, a statue representing Riel as the statesman he was was unveiled on the site of Manitoba's legislative assembly.

The member for Rimouski—Mitis even mentioned a more recent commemoration, at Winterlude, our winter festival here, which is moving into its second weekend.

People here saw 12 blocks of snow on the grounds in front of Parliament Hill at the start of the week. Some joked that it was a winter depiction of the caucus of the member for Rimouski—Mitis, but it was nothing of the sort. It was the wherewithal for 12 magnificent sculptures representing the provinces and territories. The statue sculpted to honour Manitoba was a bust of Louis Riel.

I encourage everyone in the national capital region to come and see these sculptures over the weekend.

These sorts of positive and progressive measures are the way we honour the memory of Louis Riel. They have the support of all Canadians and bear true witness to his contribution to the building of Canada.

On January 7 of this year the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and the Minister of Natural Resources of Canada unveiled “Gathering Strength—Canada's Aboriginal Action Plan”. This action plan provides a solid framework through which we can make greater progress on the serious problems facing all aboriginal people.

One of the important themes of “Gathering Strength” was healing and reconciliation. In that regard the federal government committed to seeking appropriate ways of affirming the contribution of Metis people in Canada and of reflecting Louis Riel's place in Canada's history.

It is in these ways that the government will continue to work closely with the Metis leaders and the descendants of Louis Riel.

The government intends to continue the dialogue it has already begun with the Metis leaders to find a way to resolve the problem of the guilty verdict given Louis Riel.

Louis Riel was an eloquent, articulate defender of Metis rights, as well as those of all members of the community whether aboriginal or non-aboriginal, anglophone or francophone.

The Metis people formed a substantial part of the population then and Louis Riel championed the rights of minority groups. Riel believed in the Metis having equal rights and participation within Confederation.

Let us be clear on one thing. He was never an advocate of separation. He did not want to tear the country apart. Rather he gave his life trying to build it.

If the real purpose of this measure is to enhance the stature of Louis Riel in the minds and hearts of Canadians, there are many positive measures we can and will take. We will find ways to show Canadians from all walks of life how much we honour the memory of Louis Riel and recognize and appreciate his contributions to the development of Canada.

I remind hon. members of the resolution adopted in 1992 by the House. It recognized the unique and historic role of Louis Riel as the founder of Manitoba and his contribution to the development of Confederation. This was an important moment in the annals of Metis history as the resolution was overwhelmingly adopted by the House and, equally important, because the resolution was the product of significant consultation with the Metis community.

Whatever decision we make on a matter of this importance must be acceptable to the descendants of Louis Riel and to the Metis people.

I believe that by working together with Riel's descendants and the Metis leadership we will find an appropriate solution to this important matter.

In closing, I would like to thank the member for Rimouski—Mitis for her persistence and constancy in this matter. One day we will together all find a way to more fully and faithfully honour the memory and the legacy of that great individual, Louis Riel.

[Eric C. Lowther, Reform, Calgary Centre, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak to the motion of the hon. member of the Bloc Party. The motion calls for the 113 year old verdict on Louis Riel for being guilty of high treason to be revoked. In addition, the motion like past ones before it calls for a commemorative day each year in honour of the man Louis Riel.

Clearly this is an emotional issue for some people on both sides of the debate. Some say he was a hero who was justified in his cause. Others argue that he was largely self-serving and he went too far in pursuing a cause and a personal vision of himself. Each side quotes facts and data which serve to embellish their case and wrap them in an emotionally appealing package. This can be an emotional issue because as Canadians we want to have our own Canadian heroes. We need them.

Canadians are patriotic. We may not wear it on our sleeves like our American neighbours, but if one scratches even a bit below the surface there is a bright red, passionate Canadian heart beating. Being Canadian means something.

One of my most enjoyable duties as a new member of Parliament of this great House is to attend citizenship court in my riding. After the ceremony I embrace our new citizens and ask them what their citizenship is. I have seen tears of gratitude and hope well up in their eyes when for the first time they say “I am a Canadian”. It is a powerful moment.

Part of being a Canadian is that we demand our heroes to be real, for their stories to have integrity. We intrinsically know they must be out there, these Canadian heroes, and I believe there is a desire to know them better, to know their stories. Somehow I feel their stories have been kept from us. We do not celebrate them as we could and, I suggest, for the strength of our nation as we should. All this in spite of the millions we spend on Canadian culture and heritage.

I understand that some prefer their tax dollars be used to fund cultural products that appeal to the arts community such as a recent Canadian movie that documented a fictional tragedy, made all the more tragic by a subplot of incest and sexual perversion. Some seem to think this type of art is good for Canada. It is not my preference.

Instead, I prefer a greater focus on our heritage and culture. The money of government ministries should go to portraying the history and positive real life stories of men and women who gave so much to this country and the world. With this we would all be inspired and stand a little taller when we say “I am a Canadian”.

If Louis Riel, why not Jean de Brébeuf whose ability with languages allowed him to communicate with ease with the Huron Indians? He assimilated into their culture. Brébeuf composed the first dictionary and grammar of the Huron language. During a small pox scourge Brébeuf stayed behind helping the sick Hurons while an Iroquois war party approached. The few Huron Indians who escaped witnessed his torturous death and the story of his courage and service impacted on the lives of thousands of Huron Indians in years to come.

How about Paul de Chomedey de Maisonneuve, the founder of Ville Marie on the island of Montreal in 1642? Maisonneuve was a revered leader who governed wisely and kept order in a growing colony for 23 years. Interestingly he ordered brawlers to pay the medical bills of their victims and slanderers to praise each other in public. He sounds like a Reformer to me.

Or, more recently, in the early part of this century, Mr. Georges Vanier. At this time I would like to quote an article by Mr. George Cowley contained in a forthcoming publication Canada Portraits of Faith . He records:

Mr. George Vanier was a man that, when the first world war broke out, felt that his immediate duty was to his country. He took the leading role in recruiting and organizing a first battalion to be raised by and of French Canadians: the Royal 22nd Regiment, the Van Doos. Shortly after, he lost his right leg to a German shell. After convalescing, he refused evacuation. “I simply cannot go back to Canada,” he insisted, “while my (Canadian) comrades are still in the trenches in France”.

(After a very distinguished career, Vanier) retired from diplomatic service in 1954, hoping to continue serving Canada in “some modest capacity”. The capacity offered him in 1959, at age 71, was to become Canada's governor general, the first Quebec native so honoured.

In early 1967, Vanier's heart showed signs of weakening. His last official engagement was to address, from his wheelchair, a delegation of students from the University of Montreal on the favourite theme of his latter years: the importance of Canadian unity. Few figures in Canadian history have been better demonstrated, by words and deeds, the urgency and sacredness of this cause. “The measure of Canadian unity has been the measure of our success—if we imagine we can go our separate ways within our country, if we exaggerate our differences and revel in contentions—we will only promote our own destruction. Canada owes it to the world to remain united, for no lesson is more badly needed than the one our unity can supply: the lesson that diversity need not be the cause for conflict, but, on the contrary, may lead to richer and nobler living. I pray to God that we may go forward hand in hand”.

There are many more Canadian heroes that we all need to know more about. It would serve to strengthen our passion and resolve to stand on guard for our great nation.

I am thankful that people like Michael Clarke of Reel to Real Ministries from Chilliwack, B.C. whose publication I mentioned earlier “Portraits of Faith” provides accurate insights into the lives of many Canadian heroes. This publication will encourage us all to inspire our children.

As for Mr. Louis Riel, he was no doubt a passionate man and worked to see that the west had an independent voice within Confederation but his tactics were outside the law. We can recognize that some good was brought about through his life, as it is with every human life, but as Canadians we have a great deal of history to celebrate without having to rewrite it. The pen that rewrites history will always be driven by today's biases. It is better not to do it.

My fellow Canadians, we have much to be thankful for. In fact, we have an obligation to celebrate the strengths of this great nation.

[Gordon Earle, NDP, Halifax West, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak on this motion.

The history of the Metis treatment by the Canadian government is appalling. While we generally support the concept of this motion, and I want to commend the hon. member for bringing forth a motion concerning the recognition of Louis Riel, we would have preferred a much stronger and differently worded motion.

This motion specifically addresses the verdict of high treason pronounced on Louis Riel on August 1, 1885. In effect what this motion would do by revoking the verdict of guilty of high treason would be to pardon the federal government for its abominable treatment of Louis Riel.

Unfortunately what the motion fails to do is to address the substantive issues which continue to oppress Metis today and continue to threaten their children tomorrow. This motion would in effect pardon the federal government by removing the blot on the government's own record while doing nothing concrete to change the lives of the Metis.

The First Nations peoples continue to be treated by government as second class citizens and that would place the Metis families at an even lower caste in the government's eyes. The federal government, even after the release of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples report, continues to do its very best to ignore Metis and place their concerns far on the back burner.

Whether or not Louis Riel day is proclaimed, the government should commit to several fundamentals.

First and foremost this government should recognize that the Metis nation is entitled legally, morally and politically to have access to land bases and land use rights sufficient to fulfil the Metis nation's legitimate aspirations as aboriginal peoples.

Furthermore as my colleague the hon. member for Churchill River who himself is Metis would argue, one of the first steps the government should take is to bring all aboriginal peoples, including the Metis, under section 91(24) of the Constitution Act. Such a move on behalf of this government would truly show to the Metis that the government is sincere in supporting a bright future for these people instead of trying to deny them both their history and their future.

Instead of treating the Metis as an afterthought, the government should negotiate self-government and land claims with the Metis nation on a nation to nation basis. Furthermore why does the government not negotiate with the Metis how they will exercise their aboriginal rights to harvest fish and wildlife? Why has this government not chosen to ensure the Metis have the benefits of programs and services which governments now allocate to First Nations peoples?

As long as this government tries to deny Metis their historic and moral rights, this government will continue to actively condemn Metis to poverty and to the back of the legislative bus.

During the negotiation of Manitoba's entry into Confederation, a grant of 1.4 million acres of land was reserved for the exclusive use of the Metis. The full creation of a Metis land base was undermined by systemic government delays and neglect.

The points that I have called for are not new. Indeed it is a fact that these very proposals sit before this government even as this government sits silent. These proposals from the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples offer a new dawn. This government chooses not to even have the dignity to respond to these solutions, but sits quiet.

The Metis are not asking for special status. They are not seeking some gift from the government, nor are they asking for anything but what is their historic and moral due. They want to be treated as the equals they are and negotiate with government as other natives negotiate.

But what is a people without a land base? If history has shown us and taught us anything, it is true that a land base with all the access to resources that accompany it is an absolute, uncontroversial precondition for nationhood. Where does this government stand on Metis nationhood?

Who are these people that Louis Riel led at one time? Is the government afraid to act because it has difficulty identifying just who among us are these Metis who deserve better treatment from this government?

The royal commission has made it easy for us. It recommends that every person who identifies himself or herself as Metis and is accepted as such by the nation of the Metis should be recognized by that nation.

While these negotiations go on, the government should work with the Metis and provincial and territorial governments to enter into temporary land use agreements with the Metis nation.

Just as no nation can exist without land, no nation can exist without language and culture. What of Metis education and culture?

Certainly as the motion indicates, Louis Riel played a crucial role in Metis culture. But this government has a responsibility to negotiate with the Metis full-fledged post-secondary education. Great care must be exercised to assure the development of Metis culture.

I strongly suggest should Louis Riel day come into force, the government use that day to examine the following issues laid out in the report by the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, a report to which the government has yet to respond in any meaningful way.

First, consultation with Metis elders when educational programs are planned. Second, establishment and funding of Metis schools where numbers warrant. Third, assisted access to post-secondary education in some form. Finally, support for a college or faculty of Metis study.

The Metis are involved in every facet of our society and represent an enormously varied cross-section of Canada, whether economically, geographically, in terms of professions and education, and certainly in terms of hopes, dreams and support for family and community. What they do not have is support from this government for the preservation of their culture and traditions.

In closing, I would like to once again stress that this motion, as good as it may be, sets out in effect to pardon the federal government for its historical error and does not address the real, substantive and immediate issues crucial to the Metis today and to their children tomorrow.

However in true democratic spirit, we feel that the members of this House should decide on the merit of this motion and I would ask again that we have unanimous consent to have this motion voted on.

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)]

The hon. member for Halifax West has asked for unanimous consent to have this motion made votable. Is there unanimous consent?

[Some hon. members]

No.

[Gerald Keddy, Progressive Conservative, South Shore, NS]

Mr. Speaker, if I can take a moment to draw the attention of the members of the House to the members of the Métis National Council who are sitting in the gallery.

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)]

Hon. members of the House would like to welcome members of the Métis National Assembly to the deliberations here. This is not the custom but because the motion that is being debated speaks directly to the Metis culture, to your culture, I bid you, on behalf of the House, welcome.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

[Gerald Keddy, Progressive Conservative, South Shore, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to reply to Private Members' Motion M-108 of the member for Rimouski—Mitis, that, in the opinion of this House, the government should revoke the verdict of guilty of high treason pronounced on Louis Riel on August 1, 1885 and commemorate him by declaring November 16 of each year to be Louis Riel day throughout Canada.

Certainly this is one of the definitive questions in Canadian history and one which affects the way we identify ourselves as Canadians.

The member for Rimouski—Mitis has raised two issues. Since the motion is non-votable, I will deal with one. Should we pardon Louis Riel.

I have no illusions about the sensitivity of this issue to the Metis nation and have heard from the Métis National Council members personally. I also fully understand the struggles of Conservative leaders from John A. Macdonald who ultimately allowed the death penalty to be carried out, to Joe Clark who on March 9, 1992 recognized Louis David Riel as the founder of Manitoba and a contributor to the development of Confederation.

Mr. Speaker, I stand before you today to speak from my heart on this matter. I commend and applaud the member for Rimouski—Mitis for raising this important issue. Time is past due that we deal with this piece of Canada's history.

I have been and I still am an avid reader of history. With that said I would like to go on the record as being appalled by some of the revisionists and plain bad history that is being written by so many so-called historians today. History should be understood in the context that it occurred, analysed and remembered. History should not be revisionist, whitewashed or politically correct. History is a record, it is not a judgment.

As much as I disdain the revisionists of this world, I fully support efforts that lead to a more correct interpretation of events. In 1650 when Oliver Cromwell told his portrait painter Peter Lely to paint his portrait warts and all, he was sending a message to posterity. History is about facts. Historians, parliamentarians and all Canadians need to be careful of demonization and cautious of canonisation.

It is because history is objective that I support part of this motion even though it is not votable. Certainly the government is able to revoke the verdict of guilty of high treason. The question is, should we pardon Louis Riel? I say why not. I have heard criticism that this would lead to a plethora of requests for other pardons, but I disagree. Louis David Riel is a unique case. He was elected to the Parliament of Canada three times but never took his seat and only succeeded in signing the register of this Parliament once.

His case in all respects is uniquely Canadian. It speaks of the beginning of the Metis national identity at the battle of Seven Oaks and the difficulty and unease between the original First Nations of Canada and the French and English traders and settlers. Riel speaks from a page of Canadian history that should be read and understood warts and all by all Canadians.

Louis Riel was born on October 22, 1844 to Jean-Baptiste Riel and Julie de Lagimodière. At age 14 Riel was sent to Montreal to be educated at the College of the Suplician Fathers, the oldest college in Montreal. He became a student at law in the office of the famous leader Rodolphe Laflamme of the Rouge Party in Quebec. He met Louis Joseph Papineau of the 1837 rebellion.

Riel was accepted in Quebec Catholic society but only to a point. He fell in love with Marie-Julie Guernon, but they broke up in 1866 after her parents refused to allow her to marry a Metis. In that same year Riel returned to Manitoba and immediately became a leader in the Metis community.

It is not my intent to present a history of Louis Riel's life. It has been well documented. My intent is to portray a unique and truly Canadian story.

Riel belonged to a new nation, the descendants of French and Indian and Scots and Indian marriages. There were two groups, the mainly Protestant Metis supporters of the Hudson Bay Company and the the mainly Catholic Metis supporters of the North West Company. I identify these two groups in the House today to highlight the typically Canadian dichotomy in the Metis nation. The Metis were not without religious suspicion and a language barrier. I state this to point out the similarity of the greater Canadian experience.

In 1869 Riel returned from Montreal and became secretary of the National Committee of Metis. In December 1869 he became president of the provisional government. A significant date in Riel's chronology that would later become a forerunner to his fate was March 4, 1870.

On that day, Riel as the president of the provisional government ordered Thomas Scott, an Orangeman and thus a Protestant, executed for leading a rebellion against Riel's provisional government. This act would force Riel into exile.

Riel, in exile in the United States and despite a bounty of $5,000 on his head offered by the province of Ontario, was elected three times. I repeat this. He was elected three times in the House of Commons, representing Manitoba. By 1878, he was back in Manitoba, the province he helped to bring in the Confederation in 1870. He led the northwest rebellion in 1884 and he was hung for treason in 1885.

This is only a thumbnail sketch of Louis Riel. Like many others before and since, Louis David Riel was caught in the currents of history and swept to his death. Eventually his order to execute Thomas Scott fueled by religious and linguistic intolerance led to his death.

Sir John A. Macdonald himself agonized over the decision to execute Riel. In the end he made the decision that he would be able to carry out damage control in Quebec for, without question, Quebeckers led by the young Wilfrid Laurier rallied to Riel's defence. Macdonald, however, had a greater problem and that was assuaging the Protestant Orange vote in Ontario, who were crying for retaliation for Riel's execution of Orangeman Thomas Scott. Sir John A. Macdonald eventually succumbed to that pressure.

It is worth nothing that Riel was only tried by 6 jurors and not the mandatory 12 established in the Magna Carta. We should note he was declared insane but refused to admit insanity at his trial and, therefore, accepted responsibility for his actions.

There were some inconsistencies in the trial of Louis Riel, but certainly there were also some inconsistencies in the man himself. In 1870 he had Thomas Scott executed. In 1885 he ordered one of his own Metis leaders, Charles Nolin, executed but never carried through with that threat.

It is important to acknowledge the role of the other Metis in the rebellion and their contribution toward raising the profile of the Metis people. The military expertise of Gabriel Dumont played a crucial role in the rebellion, as did the leadership of Charles Nolin and Louis Schmidt. As well, Chief Poundmaker exemplified the courage and tenacity of the Metis and the Indian people.

What Riel accomplished was not without the help of others and their roles should not be forgotten. Should we pardon Louis Riel? I say yes, we should. This is not 1885 but 1998. Times have changed and events once clouded in racial and religious bigotry can now be seen objectively. Louis David Riel was and is an important figure in Canadian history and a driving force in bringing Manitoba into Confederation.

Like most men, he made some mistakes and carried his own baggage of personal biases and weaknesses. He led an ill fated rebellion against the government of Canada, but he led it to defend and represent his people. We in this House and the other place hold the power to pardon him. A pardon at this time in the history of our nation would show progress, maturity and reconciliation for all people. This pardon is not about a judgment. This pardon is about reconciliation.

One hundred and three years have passed. Let us move on. Let us move forward. Let us, in this House, pardon Louis Riel.

At this time I also would like to ask for the unanimous consent of this House to vote yea on the motion before you.

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)]

Does the hon. member have the unanimous consent of the House to make this a votable motion?

[Some hon. members]

No.