Mr. Speaker, this bill is about contraband tobacco. It is something that I know, in my 19 years as a police officer, was quite substantially a problem in Manitoba where I am from.
I am quite disturbed by the question put forward just a moment ago by the member from the NDP with regard to aboriginal people. Contraband tobacco actually does harm aboriginal people, particularly in Manitoba.
When that member says that this government has not taken action on things like the apology to the residential school survivors, she has misspoken. That member has unequivocally been dishonest about that. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission has worked very hard. This government has provided funding to ensure that the victims of that terrible tragedy have had the benefit of being able to move forward. Of course we did that because it was the right thing to do. I want to correct the record for those at home who care intimately about this issue, as I do.
I want to ask the member opposite, who is supposed to be speaking about tobacco, how the tobacco that is coming to our communities as contraband negatively impacts our communities, especially, for example, our convenience store owners; that includes aboriginal convenience store owners.