Mr. Speaker, the apology for residential school abuses is a necessary step toward reconciliation and is the foundation for a transformation in the relationship between governments and aboriginal peoples in Canada.
Drafting the apology behind closed doors is another example of the pattern of secrecy and shows why Canadians do not trust Conservatives. The government is risking rejection because of that flawed process.
Why will the Prime Minister not abide by the political accord signed in May 2005 and consult fully with the Assembly of First Nations on the drafting of an apology?