Mr. Speaker, because the government has failed to act we are forced to use the word race. By not petitioning the court it is ensuring that we will have a race based fishery in the future. Most Canadians want equality of all citizens and groups.
While both groups of fishermen have rights, both native and non-native fishermen, by not petitioning the court, by not asking for clarification, it is ensuring that one group of fishermen has superior rights over another. That is not right.
What gives the government the right to unilaterally quash the principle of equality? Both groups of fishermen have rights. Why not ask the court for clarification on that point?