Mr. Speaker, we feel this is very sad at a time when it was to be possible to reset the relationship in a true government-to-government way.
We Liberals are very proud of the process that went into the Kelowna accord. That meant 18 months of bottom-up conversations among the aboriginal leaders in this country, first nations, Inuit, Métis, provinces and territories as well as the federal government, choosing the five areas of education, health, housing, economic development as well as accountability.
Through that 18 months there was a consensus of how to go forward and how much it would cost in terms of the $5 billion that was assigned.
I must say that I come from a place where the motto was Non quo sed quomodo, “it is not only what you do, but how”, and I am afraid the bill remains as paternalistic as it was when it was tabled.