Mr. Speaker, while it may be true that the material circulated was offensive, and it is worth noting that the Liberals apologized for that mailing, it is also true that first nations in this country are disproportionately affected by the H1N1 virus. In fact, first nations in Manitoba have said that clearly from the outset and have asked the government to recognize that fact and ensure that they are able to get access to the vaccine as a high-risk group in our society.
I appreciate the member's speech today, but we have had disagreements about this in the past. I wonder if he now recognizes the importance of listening to the voices of his own community when they say that a host of factors are contributing to the situation, such as, overcrowded living conditions, poverty, lack of access to medical supplies and services, conflicting information, and lack of access to running water, that all combine to make an ideal breeding ground for H1N1. They ask the government to appreciate that fact and act on it. Will the member?