Mr. Speaker, let me start off by saying that I very much enjoyed my recent trip to Castlegar just over a month ago. I had a wonderful visit in Victoria. I really enjoyed the time I spent in Prince George as a student planting trees in the beautiful province of British Columbia. I take exception to the member's suggestion that I am not familiar with area.
With respect to the specific question of representation and taxation, we do know that this process and the 500 consultations I referred to in my remarks represent time that was spent after an initial agreement had been put in place. Time was then taken to consult, to negotiate and in some instances renegotiate parts of the agreement. The agreement itself in the section to which the hon. member has referred is not fixed. It speaks of the ability for future consultation or reworking.
As for there being no representation, certainly the agreement addresses that by allowing there to be direct voting for school boards, for any kind of boards that are going to be set up within this particular region. That is a direct ability for persons to vote for whom they want to represent them.
I am not sure what the member is speaking of when he says that there will be no ability. No, a person cannot vote for the band chief. But a person is going to have input into those boards that will be regulating everyone living within that territorial area of British Columbia.
It is not correct to say that this is taxation without representation. The representation is there. The clauses of the agreement speak to future changes that might come about. This is a very workable agreement. It is pliable. It is open. It is something I am surprised the hon. member is not supporting.