Madam Speaker, we have before us tonight a historic piece of legislation. Bill C-49 is a piece of legislation that provides for an alternative land management regime whereby the participating first nations control their lands and natural resources by removing them from under the Indian Act respecting land management.
I am very pleased tonight to stand in the House and wholeheartedly support this legislation. I am honoured to represent, as the member of parliament for York North, the Chippewas of Georgina Island, one of the 14 first nations affected by this legislation.
It is a real pleasure to know that Chief Bill McCue along with other members of the band council and members of the Chippewas of Georgina Island first nations are here tonight watching this debate.
It is with somewhat mixed emotions that I stand here tonight. It is really appalling to hear what the members opposite, the members of the Reform Party have been saying throughout this debate on first nations. It is a continued refrain we hear from that party whenever we enter into debate in this House on first nations. It is rather disturbing to know that I have constituents here who have to listen to this. The Reform members show an absolute lack of sensitivity and a lack of understanding of first nations issues.
While there was a Reform member in this House who said that we cannot foresee the future, it is clear that the members of the Reform Party only see a bleak and negative future for first nations. It is shameful. The Reform Party should be ashamed for holding up this legislation. This legislation is urgently needed by the Chippewas of Georgina Island.
In 1993 after I was first elected as the member of parliament for York Simcoe at the time, one of my first responsibilities was to attend a meeting with Chief Bill McCue, members of his council and members from the regional office at Indian affairs. It was through this meeting and subsequent dealings that I realized the difficult challenges first nations in this country have in controlling their own destiny and in controlling land that is rightfully theirs to control.
Through the process of my dealings with the Chippewas of Georgina Island and after the urgings of Chief Bill McCue, I spoke to the then minister of Indian affairs and asked him to consider this legislation. He met with the chiefs from across this country and decided to go forward with this legislation. I am pleased to say that the signing for the framework agreement was held on Georgina Island in my riding. The chiefs from across the country were at this very historic event which Chief Bill McCue hosted.
It was a wonderful opportunity to see how these communities have come together to work in a very progressive and enlightened fashion, to deal with the special and unique challenges of first nations. They have grassroots support.
We hear a lot about grassroots. I am not entirely sure what grassroots the Reform members are talking about but I can talk about the grassroots support I have in the riding of York North on this legislation. They had 91% of the people of Georgina Island supporting this very important legislation. This work has been going on for eight years. These people cannot wait any longer. They have 500 leases that must be negotiated and are coming up for renewal this spring.
The Reform Party has shown an incredible level of irresponsibility in holding the legislation back. It is appalling and it is shameful. With regard to their concerns about how first nations operate and relate to municipalities, they take isolated situations and in typical Reform fashion blow them up into stereotypes which they continually present over and over again to the Canadian public.
I would like to tell the House about the kind of relationship the Chippewas of Georgina Island have with their municipality. They have a very positive, progressive, well founded relationship. They have signed service agreements in the areas of fire protection, garbage services, police, health and education. They have shown themselves to be very substantial members of not only their community but of the larger community.
I have a letter from the Snake Island Cottagers' Association calling upon the government for speedy passage of the legislation. The letter is dated December 2, 1998 and reads:
Dear Sir,
As president of the Snake Island Cottagers' Association (SICA) I urge you on behalf of our members to expedite the second reading of Bill C-49. This as you know will eventually result in self-government for several Indian bands, especially the Chippewas of Georgina from whom we lease cottage lots on Snake Island. Our current 25 year leases expire as of April 1999. We (SICA) strongly support the Chippewas band's quest for self-government and feel that the passage of Bill C-49 will facilitate a new leasing arrangement between our members and the band. More importantly it will recognize the sovereignty of the band over their lives and lands.
That is what this is all about and that is what members of the House must remember. It is the sovereignty of our first nations and finding a way to correct the abuses of the past. I tell Canadians who are watching tonight that this is what Reform members are missing.
All Canadians of good will and good intent see the necessity for the legislation. I urge the House to speedily pass the legislation. A few minutes ago I had a discussion with Chief Bill McCue. For those who are interested, Chief Bill McCue said “It's about time we determined our own destiny”.