Mr. Speaker, the hallmark of the Conservative government is its increasingly heavy hand. It prorogues Parliament and runs to courts looking for injunctions.
Last week we even had the Minister of Indian Affairs outline his new carrot and stick approach to relations with aboriginal peoples.
As if the hand was not heavy enough, now the public safety minister, rather than engage the Akwesasne Mohawk First Nation, goes for the blunt approach. Rather than engage in dialogue, the minister prefers to sabre rattle. He now threatens to close the Cornwall Island border crossing permanently.
It seems he does not understand the economic and social impact on Akwesasne, the city of Cornwall or eastern Ontario. He has a blunt stick and he is going to use it.
Our trade and transportation relations with the United States do not need the blunt stick and our relations between government and aboriginal peoples certainly do not need the blunt stick.
When will the minister put down his stick, pick up the phone, and start talking to the Mohawks of Akwesasne?