Mr. Speaker, I would just like to make a correction to what my colleague from Champlain said a few minutes ago. He is in fact the one who provided it. He was quoting a song by Gilles Vigneault, and the words are:
Ask the rocks Ask the woods Everyone is home On the Earth.
My hon. colleague for Hochelaga—Maisonneuve has just given an excellent speech, with his usual humour, although the topic was an extremely serious one. It reflects a part of this country and this government. It must be kept in mind that, as far back as 1867, after the Conquest, and as soon as the first Parliament was formed, management of the aboriginal people was made a responsibility of the federal government. We can see what has happened since 1867. Yet here it is in 2004, still trying to impose its own views and its way of solving problems on the aboriginal nations
History cannot be rewritten and changed. All we can do is change the present, and try to influence the future. I think that is what my colleague wanted to show us. Yes, I have a question for him.
At this time, as he requested, would it be possible for this government to react and take steps to ensure that most aboriginal nations agree with the bill, by taking it back and amending it? This would require true consultation, not just the kind of consultation conducted in the past, but real consultation taking heed of what the first nations have to say.