Madam Speaker, this member just recently shut down some interventions in the House on behalf of Canadians. I would like to ask him on behalf of my constituents if he agrees with the statement that Mr. Ken Conrad from my riding wanted to make to the aboriginal affairs committee when it travelled to Victoria.
Along with many other Canadians in B.C. he was not allowed to address his concerns. I am told that members such as the one opposite simply mocked the people who had any concerns about Nisga'a. That does not surprise me with the Liberal record on undemocratic methods.
I will ask the hon. member about this comment. Mr. Conrad says that all this is an ill-conceived creation of the federal Liberal and provincial NDP governments. From all that he can gather from discussing these agreements with his native friends, governments made no efforts to reach out to the grassroots natives who must live with this decision. The only people they have consistently consulted with are the persons whom they deem to be leaders of the communities. He suggests that they not use the excuse they can submit their concerns directly to the department of Indian affairs, that it is common knowledge that any adverse communication ends back in the hands of those being criticized. They have failed to communicate with these people directly and have lost their respect in any process which they are currently undertaking.
If this gentleman who has worked with native Canadians for a long time is correct then I am asking the member if this does not bode ill for the future.