My deepest and humblest apologies, Mr. Speaker. I know that you admonished me once before. It was an error, I can assure you. I will try not to do it again.
The national Native Women's Association of Canada supports Ms. Lockhart Lundberg in her outstanding efforts. In keeping with the commitment of the Native Women's Association of Canada to advance issues and concerns of native women and in a spirit of co-operation and compromise, the association submits the following proposals to amend Bill C-49.
Here we have people who are testifying before the Senate committee, because the Senate has not been able to come up with any worthwhile proposals for amendments, making their own suggestions for amendments. They are hopeful the Senate is going to adopt them.
The first proposal is that into clause 6(3) there should be inserted a provision related to the division of matrimonial property which meets minimum recognized standards to serve until affected first nations implement a land code that includes division of matrimonial property on divorce provisions.
The second proposal concerns clause 12. It is that an approval rate of a minimum of 51% of eligible voters for land codes and individual agreements should be required.
The third proposal regards clause 17, incorporated by reference into clauses 21(2) and 22(2), to add a minimum standard to guarantee that native women's rights to matrimonial property in divorce are no less than the rights of other women and to ensure consistency, equality and natural justice.
What could be more fundamental in a democracy than equality, consistency and natural justice? What member in the House would dare stand up and speak against those principles? What member in this House would dare suggest that these women are not entitled to these?