Mr. Speaker, I can understand the concern of the member opposite, however, I must reiterate that when the Minister of Veterans Affairs announced in the House on June 21 that the Government of Canada would be offering up to $20,000 to each eligible first nations veteran as a gesture of goodwill, members of all political parties were supportive. I presume they were supportive because they knew that was just about the amount that was given to the merchant seamen and to the Hong Kong prisoners.
The offer to first nations veterans was in response to the national round table report and to the grievances of first nations veterans. It was an offer of goodwill and was not an ascertainment of liability or its absence, which I suggest the other figures suggested by my hon. colleague would be.
Eligible veterans' surviving spouses or estates have the option of accepting this package or not. The offer is consistent with similar offers made to other groups, as I have said.
Let me reiterate that the federal government's offer to first nations veterans is a fair offer and one that I hope first nations veterans will accept.