Mr. Speaker, of course we are all hoping that someday you may have those powers granted to you in the future.
When we have had legislation dealing with first nations before the House, such as the safer water act for our first nations, the NDP voted against it. We brought in matrimonial real property rights for women living on reserves to give them the same protections that are offered to women living outside a reserve; the NDP voted against it. We brought in transparency for first nations chiefs and councils so that grassroots first nations members would know what was happening with the funding that is going to those reserves; the NDP voted against it.
Every single time we bring forward positive measures for first nations, there is one thing that we can count on: the NDP standing in the way of progress. We see more of it today.
We are going to get this passed because this is what first nations are demanding, and we are going to give it to them.