Mr. Speaker, as they say, carpe diem, seize the day.
This is an opportunity for us to use the bill, to seize the day, to deal with issues such as aboriginal housing, aboriginal health, access to education, governance structures, environmental conditions on and off reserve.
I say off reserve too, because we know a the large number of aboriginal people living off reserve are excluded. Frankly, they only receive about 3.5% of the moneys through the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. They are left bereft, but their needs are as great as those living on reserve.
This is an opportunity for the government to seize the day, take initiatives, tap into the finest ideas of our land and deal with these issues now.