House of Commons Hansard #18 of the 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was wet'suwet'en.

Topics

Relations with Indigenous PeoplesEmergency Debate

7:25 p.m.

Conservative

Cathy McLeod Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC

Madam Speaker, there is a challenge in the debate we are having tonight. When my colleagues and I stand, we believe we are standing up for the Wet'suwet'en people and the decision that was made by their elected council and a number of the hereditary chiefs. I was at a resource forum in Prince George and I heard speaker after speaker talk about the opportunities they saw, including elders who said they were originally against this project but are now for it. What is happening is dividing their community.

How can my colleague stand up for what I understand to be a minority view when the community has spoken for this project?

Relations with Indigenous PeoplesEmergency Debate

7:25 p.m.

NDP

Leah Gazan NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB

Madam Speaker, I think the member is talking about the notion of free, prior and informed consent, something the Conservatives have fought violently against. That is the right to say yes, no or yes with conditions. This means that it is absolutely a nation's right to say yes, but it is also a nation's right to say no and, in the case of Coastal GasLink, yes with conditions.

We need to respect the free, prior and informed consent of indigenous peoples. This has been affirmed by the Supreme Court of Canada. We cannot just support human rights and basic rights when they support our economic interests and vision and then just brush them aside when they do not. Unfortunately, in this country there has been a history of that kind of violent, colonial, human rights-violating behaviour.

We are now at a point of crisis and people across the country are saying no more because consecutive Liberal and Conservative governments have failed to deal with long-standing land issues with indigenous people. The Mohawks of Kanesatake have been waiting at the table for 300 years. Where is the Liberal government? Where were the four previous Conservative governments?

Relations with Indigenous PeoplesEmergency Debate

7:30 p.m.

Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs Québec

Liberal

Marc Miller LiberalMinister of Indigenous Services

Madam Speaker, I want to share with this House something very personal, that I have not shared with anyone other than close friends and family, about an incident that occurred 30 years ago.

Thirty years ago, at the age of 16 turning 17, I decided to enrol in the Canadian Armed Forces. Along with my other brothers and sisters in arms who decided to sign on that dotted line of unlimited liability, I was prepared to lay my life down for the country that I love. I did the infantry basic training and did okay, and that summer I was deployed to Valcartier, along with another group of people in my platoon, to work and dedicate that summer to serving in the Canadian Armed Forces.

Why I did so was multifold. I wanted people to be proud of me. I wanted to serve my country. I wanted to learn some discipline that is not natural to me; it comes with difficulty and I still have not gotten there, but my effort and my heart was in it. I wanted to learn discipline and do things that I could not do outside the classroom.

That summer was a difficult summer for Canada. There were in my platoon four Mohawk brothers in arms. As everyone knows, 30 years ago the Oka crisis exploded. There was one night in Valcartier as we were all out, that word came down that the Royal 22e Régiment would deploy and put under siege their community. The next morning, they were no longer there. They were asked to make a difficult choice, choosing between the country that they would lay down their life for and their families. For them, the choice was clear.

It was a privilege for me not to have to make that choice myself. I have not thought about that day much, for a long time. However, we all know or should know what happened at Oka. We should know that no individuals should have to choose between their families, their nation and the country that they would readily lay their lives down for. We vowed that this would never happen again, and it should not happen again.

When we called on indigenous people in our hardest times, they served us. They defended us. They form statistically the highest percentage of people who serve in our armed forces. We should never forget that this relationship, for many communities, is based on alliance and loyalty.

I know that the recent events in B.C. and in various places across the country are deeply concerning to all Canadians. It is a very difficult situation for everyone, for those people who are non-indigenous but especially if they are indigenous. All of Canada is hurting and we are all hoping and working for a peaceful resolution. This is a challenging situation that is evolving by the hour, and the safety of all involved is of primary importance. We all want to get the same conclusion. There are some disagreements, some deep ones, as to the steps. We all want peace, we want to get rail traffic going again across this country and we want prosperity for all peoples of Canada.

There is time for all parties to engage in open and respectful dialogue to ensure this situation is resolved peacefully. To that end, I want to acknowledge the leaders of the NDP, the Bloc Québécois and the Green Party for their support and partnership in seeking a peaceful resolution. This work is not easy and it will require all of us working together in the immediate future and in the long term. We cannot move forward without honest and respectful dialogue, and that is why I am happy to take the opportunity to share my thoughts this evening and to take questions from members of this House.

Seeking an honest, open and respectful dialogue is essential for renewing the relationship and building a strong future for indigenous peoples and Canadians alike. The untold story that should be told today is that despite years of tarnished relationships, we all want to see peace and our relationship renewed, and to have a relationship based on the recognition of rights, respect, co-operation and partnership.

It is in this spirit of peace and co-operation that I went this past Saturday and gathered with members of the Mohawk nation along the rail tracks in Tyendinaga to discuss peace and friendship with a nation that has not felt part of this country. We pursued an open dialogue and made concerted efforts to move toward a peaceful resolution.

Modest but important progress was made through this dialogue. Parts of this conversation were very difficult, very painful and very personal. Upsetting stories were shared about this country's troubling treatment of indigenous peoples. There was an immense amount of suspicion toward my presence; fear that it was a ruse and that the police would move in. It is not every day that people are surrounded by police, and the reactions are normal. They are a peaceful people, and they reiterated it time and time again. We shared laughs, and as tradition dictates, we had a meal before the discussion. We listened to one another with openness and with a shared goal of finding a path forward.

I made a commitment to share our conversation with the Prime Minister and my colleagues, and I did so that night. Yesterday we had a more fulsome conversation at a meeting of the incident response group, which was convened by the Prime Minister in response to the urgent and considerable need to further open the dialogue and continue the dialogue we started in Tyendinaga on Saturday morning.

My colleague, the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, also remains in communication with the Province of B.C. and hereditary leadership, with the hopes of meeting in person soon. She also had a very productive conversation with the leadership to open up that path to de-escalation. It will not be an easy one. There are many demands, many historical grievances, but there is a clear sense that there is a protocol to be observed and a pathway toward de-escalation.

We are a country built on the values of peace, order and good government. We hear it all the time. We need to make sure we remain focused on those ideals. One of the steps necessary to achieve peaceful progress in an unreconciled country is to continue that open dialogue at the very highest levels of government based on a nation-to-nation and government-to-government relationship, and that is exactly what has guided and underlined our actions over the past few days.

Unfortunately, in the case of indigenous peoples, we have too often discarded the first pillar, which is peace, for the sake of order and good government. I am someone who spent a long time in private practice. I have two law degrees and am accredited to practise in two jurisdictions. Let me say that the rule of law is very dear to me. I have spent my life and career upholding it.

I hear from the indigenous communities I serve, to which I have a fiduciary obligation that goes back before Canada to the Royal Proclamation of 1763, to uphold the honour of the Crown. Those people say too me too often that rule of law has been invoked to perpetrate historical injustices. We need only look at the examples of Louis Riel, Big Bear and Poundmaker to have some of the more poignant examples, as well as those perpetrated on a daily basis.

People have said to lock them up. Guess what, that has been tried. The level of incarceration is six times higher for the indigenous population of Canada, and in some provinces, much worse. These are very serious issues that demand our attention and have demanded it for hundreds of years, and there is no place in this discussion for rhetoric and vitriol.

The question I find myself asking time and time again as I look at my children is whether we are going to do things the way we have always done them, which has brought us to this point in our relationship, or whether we are going to take a new approach that prioritizes open dialogue built on respect, one that engages us in a true government-to-government relationship. The conversations we started on Saturday, and those my colleagues have offered to have across the country at the highest level, will help us find a more collaborative and therefore constructive way forward.

It is only through meaningful engagement with those who have felt ignored and disrespected for too long that we can find a way forward that builds peace and prosperity for all.

For almost 500 years, indigenous peoples have faced discrimination in every aspect of their lives. The Crown, at times, has prevented a true equal partnership from developing with indigenous peoples imposing, instead, a relationship based on colonial, paternalistic ways of thinking and doing.

As I mentioned in introduction, many of our relationships were based on military alliances to ensure our own sovereignty. Let me say, they stepped up when we needed them. A little over a year ago, this whole House rose to celebrate Levi Oakes and the untold story of the last Mohawk code talker. Sadly, a few months later after this lifting up that was long overdue, he passed away. He was born in Snye, Akwesasne, part of Quebec. He served in the U.S. Armed Forces.

A story that has not been told is why he did not serve Canada. He did not serve Canada because his brother was beaten up by a policeman, and he vowed never to serve in our forces. We need to think about that, when we think about the people who serve us best. Those who came back from having served overseas, arm in arm, brothers in arms, sisters in arms were not treated that way. They were discriminated against. They could not get their pensions or medical benefits. The list is long and it is painful.

Here we are today. It has been mentioned by members of the opposition and it needs to keep being mentioned that we face a historic challenge, an injustice that we keep perpetrating towards the most important things in our life, children, in this case, for indigenous peoples, their children. There is a broken child and family system where indigenous children up to the age of 14 make up 52% of kids in foster care and care, even though they represent 7.7% of all Canadian children. There are shocking rates of suicide among indigenous youth causing untold pain and hurt that will plague families and communities for generations to come. There are untenable housing conditions, where water that is unsafe to drink or even bathe in comes out of the taps.

In Lac Seul where we lifted a boil water advisory for the first time in 17 years, the kids in the room had never had clean water from their system. One of the elders I spoke to giggled with a sense of humour that we see in, and is almost unique to, indigenous communities. She said to me that now it would not itch after she took her bath.

There are communities where overcrowding and mould are far too common. There are communities that do not have reliable access to roads or health centres or even schools. That approach has left a legacy of devastation, pain and suffering, and it is unacceptable and untenable.

For hundreds of years indigenous peoples have been calling on the Canadian government to recognize and affirm their jurisdiction over their affairs, to have control and agency over their land, housing, education, governance systems, and child and family services. We have undeniable proof that self-determination is a better path to take. For example, look at the Mi’kmaq communities in Nova Scotia. In 1997, the governments of Canada and Nova Scotia signed a historic agreement with nine Mi'kmaq communities, restoring their control over their education system. The result is that now more than 90% of Mi’kmaq students graduate. It is higher than the average in most provinces.

That is what comes when Canada steps out of the way and accepts the necessity of self-governance and self-determination. This is what has to happen in every sector. This is what communities are asking for now, and have been asking for for far too long. It is what is at stake when we speak about self-determination. Self-governing indigenous peoples have better socio-economic outcomes because they know best what to do with their resources. More children finish high school. Fewer people are unemployed. Health outcomes are better. Self-determination improves the well-being and prosperity of indigenous communities, and that is something all Canadians should strive to support.

When we formed government, we took a different approach founded on partnership and co-development, built from a place of listening to indigenous leaders, elders, youth and community, working with members, and working to support the attainment of their goals based on their priorities.

It is important to highlight this while the events gripping the nation are on the front page of the newspapers. The progress, while slow, has been determined, forceful and backed up with historic amounts. Since 2016 we have invested $21 billion into the priorities of indigenous partners, and together we have made some progress. Sixty-nine schools were built or renovated. Some 265 water and waste-water infrastructure projects were completed and 88 long-term drinking water advisories were lifted. We are contributing toward the establishment of a wellness centre in Nunavut in partnership with the Government of Nunavut and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated. We are supporting the national Inuit suicide prevention strategy and ensuring that Inuit children have access to the health, social and educational supports they need. We are working with the Métis nation to advance shared priorities such as health, post-secondary education and economic development.

However, we still have a long way to go to close the unacceptable socio-economic gaps that still exist between indigenous and non-indigenous peoples. Our government is committed to working in partnership on improving the lives of first nations children, and our track record of the past four years shows this. We have almost doubled funding to first nations child and family services agencies, from close to $677 million in 2016 to $1.2 billion in 2018-19. That funding is based on actual needs and with an emphasis on prevention.

There have been 508,000 requests for Jordan's principle approved, which ensures first nations children have the health, education and social supports they need, when and where they need them. I was in Whitefish River First Nation about three days ago, and I saw the work that Jordan's principle does for children who need it, and we are striving to ensure they get substantive equality.

We are providing predictable funding to education that is provincially comparable. We know this is essential to strengthen first nations education and improve outcomes, because indigenous peoples must have control over first nations education systems. We know when that is done indigenous graduation rates are the same, if not better, than non-indigenous graduation rates. We have launched a new funding formula for kindergarten to grade 12 education that has resulted in regional funding increases of almost 40%. The number of first nations schools offering elementary full-day kindergarten, for example, has increased by over 50%.

We have a tough road ahead of us. As I mentioned, this road will be demanding on all of us. We will have to work together very hard and listen even when the truth is hard to hear. We will have to continue discussions even when we do not agree. We will have to keep working together, looking for creative ways to move forward and finding new paths towards healing and true understanding.

We have all seen what happens when we do not work together and engage in dialogue. We end up with mistrust and confusion over who should speak on behalf of rights holders on issues like consent, as well as the rights and titles of indigenous peoples. This confusion can lead to conflict, as we are seeing now, and prevents us from moving forward together.

I realize that the challenges we face are many, but I know that the difficult road ahead of us is worthwhile. It is worthwhile for the youth in the next generation and for those who will follow. It is worthwhile for all those who will grow up knowing that together, the Crown and indigenous peoples are working hard to create a future, to improve their quality of life and to heal. We will not fail another generation of indigenous children.

I have spoken about a lot of the difficulties, a lot of the pain and a lot of the successes that are progressive, yet slow, that we have done as a government. We have a lot more to do, and we cannot discount mistakes, but we do it in good faith and in good partnership with indigenous communities.

I ask everyone in this House as they contemplate the next few days to look at their children or those that are young and are dear to them and ask themselves what they will tell them when this conflict resolves. We cannot repeat the errors of the past, and there are many to base ourselves on.

[Member spoke in Mohawk]

Relations with Indigenous PeoplesEmergency Debate

7:50 p.m.

Conservative

Jamie Schmale Conservative Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON

Madam Speaker, I thank the minister for his words and for his service to our country in uniform. There is nothing braver than serving our country in uniform, and I thank him for that.

The comments and question I have are linked to what the minister was talking about in his speech. He referenced the issues that first nations communities are having in their jurisdictions, and I think we all need to continue to hear about those issues. One way to improve the conditions in these first nations communities is with economic opportunities and prosperity. That is one way which Coastal GasLink was going to do for the 20 first nations communities that signed on to this project. It was going to provide their members jobs, opportunity and hope, which is a good thing and what we want.

The minister talked a lot about the group that is against the project, but what he did not mention was the 85% plus who voted in favour of the project, such as the elected chief, the elected council and the hereditary chiefs who all supported this project.

Given that a number of these protestors have no connection to the community at all, and some do not even live in this country but have joined this fight for what they think is the end to oil and gas development in our country, when is the minister going to have these illegal blockades removed and get our economy back on track?

Relations with Indigenous PeoplesEmergency Debate

7:50 p.m.

Liberal

Marc Miller Liberal Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC

Madam Speaker, too often in this country we have taken the approach that we would pick whatever indigenous view suits our thoughts and our process. That is not self-determination. That is not respect. We need to understand the decisions that are made by communities and not take a simplistic view as to what is or what is not, or presume the outcome in an indigenous community.

There is no question that the Coastal GasLink project was widely consulted. A process was undertaken by Coastal GasLink and respected, but we cannot then turn around and presume that there is no complexity in community, that there is no complexity in decision-making, that there is not a challenge towards elected leadership and community, or that there is not a tension between hereditary and elected leadership. That is not the same for every community, and I think we need to open our minds to what the differences are.

The challenge we face today is that before us we have a number of people who are fighting for their rights, and they are looking for a peaceful solution. We need to work with those people and start to listen to them in a way that we have not listened before, and that is what I am asking.

There is no question that communities want economic development. I met last week with people from the Treaty 8 first nations, and they have great projects that they are working on. They want economic development; there is absolutely no question about it. However, we cannot simply say that because that particular point of view suits our political end we are going to take that indigenous community and serve our purpose. We need to respect decisions when they are good and we need to respect decisions when they are bad. Moreover, we need to sit down and listen, and come to a co-operative model of how we move together as a country.

Relations with Indigenous PeoplesEmergency Debate

7:50 p.m.

NDP

Richard Cannings NDP South Okanagan—West Kootenay, BC

Madam Speaker, I have great respect for the minister and the work he has shown in this place towards raising the awareness of all of us on indigenous rights, language and culture.

I have been encouraged in the last couple of days with the direction in which the government is moving on this issue. The minister talked about the impact of having the RCMP involved in these actions, which can cause real trauma among indigenous groups who have dealt with the RCMP before. I am happy that they have pledged to move ahead with a peaceful solution.

I wonder if the minister could respond to the NDP's comments that for the last weeks we have been asking the Prime Minister to get involved. This is a federal issue, but the Prime Minister stated here two weeks ago that it was not. I am wondering if he can now say that the Prime Minister will put that behind him, and go and talk to the hereditary chiefs and get a peaceful solution to this very important issue.

Relations with Indigenous PeoplesEmergency Debate

7:55 p.m.

Liberal

Marc Miller Liberal Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC

Madam Speaker, I want to thank the member opposite and his party for their support during this difficult time. This is a situation that is evolving hour by hour. Two hours ago, I had the chance to brief the Prime Minister, the Minister of Public Safety and the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations on the status of discussions.

There are some positive paths. Out of respect for the Wet'suwet'en leadership, I am loath to discuss the challenges and the path that we are undertaking, but clearly we see there is a path forward. We see there is modest and positive progress in the right direction, and we would all like to get to a peaceful resolution.

I think there is a presumption that the Prime Minister can sweep in and fix everything. That is not the case. He has a confident cabinet that he trusts and has trust in those indigenous communities. The Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations is available and had discussions earlier on today with precisely that leadership.

Out of respect for those discussions and the urgency of the ongoing situation that is evolving hour by hour, I will not discuss those steps. Canadians should know that we are seizing the situation at the very highest level of government to work toward a peaceful resolution.

Relations with Indigenous PeoplesEmergency Debate

7:55 p.m.

Bloc

Sébastien Lemire Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the Minister of Indigenous Services for his compassionate speech.

Honestly, it is good to feel this compassion, which I felt was quite sincere, here in the House, particularly after the day we have had today.

I would just like to know how he felt yesterday as he approached the first nations blockade. What was he thinking? Does he recognize the legitimacy of the claims of the first nations involved in this crisis?

Meegwetch.

Relations with Indigenous PeoplesEmergency Debate

7:55 p.m.

Liberal

Marc Miller Liberal Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC

Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question.

Like that of the NDP, I appreciate his party's support during these very difficult circumstances.

Clearly, I was nervous. A lot of people told me not to go, not to listen and to leave it to the officials, but when you begin a process of trust with a group where trust is absent, it is very difficult to make that approach. People feel vulnerable. That said, I had the trust of some people I knew in the community.

The untold story in this whole situation is that this was only possible with the help of many of the women in the community. They facilitated these conversations. There was mistrust and they did not want me to come. They thought it was a ruse. I did not understand it at all, but as I talked with them throughout the day, I could see that they had every reason to be suspicious. There is quite a history to consider. They had felt cheated and tricked by the police, and they saw history repeating itself.

It is hard to build trust behind a blockade, so we absolutely needed to go there and start talking. I described the progress as “modest” overall, but we built some trust.

I have confidence. What we tried to find is a path to de-escalation. I remain confident and hopeful that this will happen.

Relations with Indigenous PeoplesEmergency Debate

7:55 p.m.

Conservative

Cathy McLeod Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC

Madam Speaker, I would like to suggest that the government has been asleep at the switch for the last number of months. This is a crisis that has been brewing. The Prime Minister was saying that it is up to the provincial government to deal with it, that it is up to whoever to deal with it. He went off to Africa. I am certainly not aware of any action taken by the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations until it reached a crisis point.

Is it their perspective that it is the government's job to finally wake up when there is a crisis or should they be looking for the red flags that have been there for ever and ever and they completely ignored?

Relations with Indigenous PeoplesEmergency Debate

8 p.m.

Liberal

Marc Miller Liberal Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC

Madam Speaker, I think we all heard the Leader of the Opposition's speech today. It was shameful.

Relations with Indigenous PeoplesEmergency Debate

8 p.m.

Conservative

Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC

Yeah, it's listening to other views, isn't it?

Relations with Indigenous PeoplesEmergency Debate

8 p.m.

Liberal

Marc Miller Liberal Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC

I listened to it and I found it shameful, so yes, I did listen to the other view. I found it retrograde. I found it—

Relations with Indigenous PeoplesEmergency Debate

8 p.m.

Conservative

Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC

Simplistic is what you called it.

Relations with Indigenous PeoplesEmergency Debate

8 p.m.

Liberal

Marc Miller Liberal Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC

Yes, it was simplistic. Madam Speaker, I think the member opposite should speak. I think he is qualifying his own leader in a better way than I can.

The reality is that every—

Relations with Indigenous PeoplesEmergency Debate

8 p.m.

Liberal

The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès) Liberal Alexandra Mendes

Can we hear each other speak, please? Thank you.

Relations with Indigenous PeoplesEmergency Debate

8 p.m.

Liberal

Marc Miller Liberal Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC

Madam Speaker, every time we hear members opposite cry for law and order, it triggers a number of communities and it triggers bad memories.

I am loath to understand the perspective of the Leader of the Opposition from the comfort of his residence in Stornoway, when there are people on the line whose lives are at risk and he should appreciate that. In fact, the next time I go down there, I would welcome him to come with me.

Relations with Indigenous PeoplesEmergency Debate

8 p.m.

Conservative

Jamie Schmale Conservative Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to rise and address the House on this important emergency debate this evening. The situation surrounding the Wet'suwet'en blockades has spiralled out of control.

The Liberal government has demonstrated, through its inaction on this issue and its refusal to meet with the Wet'suwet'en people on the opening days of this crisis, that the pursuit of the UN Security Council seat is more important than the safety of Canadians. Its procrastination has caused this crisis to inflame and spread across Canada.

Just today, a group of radicals went to the house of B.C. Premier Horgan with the intent of placing him under citizen's arrest. The premier of a province in this great country is having radicals approach his house. That is absolutely wrong.

These small groups of protesters continue their illegal blockades at railway and border crossings around the country. As I have said before, many of these protesters have no connection to this country. They have their agenda and they want to enforce it, even if the people they pretend to advocate for do not want it.

Wet'suwet'en people have highlighted in the media how many of these protesters are not from the region or the community or, as I said, even our country. Siding with a small group of activists because they happen to align with one's views, and insisting that the RCMP enforce these views against the will of the majority of the Wet'suwet'en people, contradicts the spirit of reconciliation.

Hereditary chief Helen Michelle of Skin Tyee First Nation of the Wet'suwet'en has stated that, “A lot of the protesters are not even Wet’suwet’en”. She said that the Wet'suwet'en talked to the elders and kept bringing them back, and they walked the territory where the Coastal GasLink is going. She added, “Our people said go ahead” to Coastal GasLink.

Hereditary Chief Theresa Tait-Day of Wet'suwet'en Nation said, “In the case of #CoastalGasLink, 85% of our people said yes they want this project.”

Chief Larry Nooski, of the Nadleh Whut'en First Nation, said:

#CoastalGasLink represents a once in a generation economic development opportunity.... We negotiated hard to guarantee that Nadleh people, including youth, have the opportunity to benefit directly and indirectly from the project, while at the same time, ensuring that the land and the water is protected....

The vast majority of members of the Wet'suwet'en people support the Coastal GasLink project. Every single band council on the Coastal GasLink route supports this project. Even the majority of hereditary chiefs support this project. The vast majority of first nations community members themselves support this project because of the massive benefits to their nation. A minority imposing its will on the majority is causing this problem.

The democratically elected leadership of the Wet'suwet'en, who not only represent the people of the community but also the hereditary leaders, have signed off on this project. Why? It is because it is good for their community. It provides economic benefits, it will lift people out of poverty and it will provide the next generation of Wet'suwet'en with the resources to not only improve their own lives, but to build a strong, independent nation within Canada.

Before I continue, I would like to mention that I am splitting my time with my friend from Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles.

A B.C. judge issued an injunction saying protesters could not block Coastal GasLink from accessing the work site. Under Canada's Constitution, the duty to consult with impacted indigenous communities is clear and it has been upheld by numerous court decisions. One may not always agree with the decision, but one must respect it. That is the rule of law.

Canadian veterans, both non-indigenous and indigenous, fought for the rule of law, not tyranny. In fact, 200 indigenous Canadians died for Canada in military service, and they did not even have the right to vote. It is shameful that it was not until 1960 that they won that right. The rule of law, and freedoms of expression and peaceful protest are hard-fought rights.

Many indigenous and non-indigenous Canadians peacefully protested for those rights, with some even taking their seats in this very place. Indigenous peoples have fought too long and too hard in this country to ensure that their views are heard. We need to honour that. It is not to diminish the spirit of those peaceful activists by allowing a small group of radicals to derail the reconciliation process.

While we might not always agree on the policy, we must always agree to sit down and talk. The Prime Minister failed to do that, and we are now faced with the crisis before us. While the rule of law must be upheld, there must be a fair and transparent engagement process for any proposed natural resource projects in Canada.

The National Energy Board concluded that the project is fully within the jurisdiction of the B.C. government, through which the proponents received approval to proceed after undergoing extensive regulatory and environmental reviews.

The fact remains that consultations were conducted, and the majority of the Wet'suwet'en people support the project and believe it will benefit their community.

While we appreciate the right of individuals to protest peacefully, we urge all groups to do so in a safe and responsible manner. The transport minister confirmed that railway crossings have been tampered with, specifically the lights that indicate a train is coming.

I am from a rural riding. Many children in countless rural communities across the country cross railway crossings to and from school every day. Putting the lives of these children at risk is unacceptable.

The actions of these people are criminal, and Canadians expect the police to put an end to that. It has been 13 days. Just this weekend the government decided to sit down and meet with first nations leaders to open dialogue on this crisis, a crisis that could have been diverted if the government's talk on reconciliation was not just rhetoric.

While this country was being held hostage by anti-energy activists, the Prime Minister felt his time was better spent hugging the Iranian foreign affairs minister, whose country admitted to shooting down Flight 752, killing 63 Canadians. He felt his time was better spent schmoozing with dictators and human rights violators to woo them to get a vote for a frankly useless seat at the UN, rather than safeguarding Canadians and protecting the economy of Canada.

Our veterans fought for our right to protest. It is enshrined in the highest law of our land. Everybody in this country, whether they live here or are from another country, has the right to freedom of speech and the freedom to protest, regardless of how much we agree or disagree.

What they do not have the right to do is shut down our railways and ports. They do not have the right to block honest Canadians from getting to and from work. They do not have the right to block small businesses and farmers from getting their goods to market. They do not have the right to put the lives of Canadians at risk.

Let me be clear. Legitimate concerns are being expressed by people at these protests and by indigenous people. They need to be heard. There needs to be dialogue, and there needs to be reconciliation.

My role as shadow minister for Crown-indigenous relations is to work with my colleagues across the way and indigenous leaders from communities around the country to effect real and positive change.

However, we cannot allow a small group of radical protesters, who have no real vested interest in reconciliation and who the Prime Minister has placed on the same tier as the countless men and women in first nations communities who have fought in good faith to right the wrongs of Canadian history, to do a disservice to the spirit of reconciliation.

Therefore, we have requested the Prime Minister do a number of things, including come up with a plan forward. We are still waiting for that. We heard words from the Prime Minister that were just words. There is still no plan. The situation has continued over a long period of time. The government acts surprised that we have come to this point, yet burying its head in the sand is exactly how we got to this point.

We heard from the minister, who basically blamed anyone who had a differing opinion from him. That is not part of working together.

I welcome questions from my colleagues across the way. Hopefully, we will find a peaceful solution to the situation.

Relations with Indigenous PeoplesEmergency Debate

8:10 p.m.

Liberal

Marcus Powlowski Liberal Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON

Madam Speaker, I think both sides of the House agree on a number of things related to this issue. We both have the long-term interests of the Wet'suwet'en people in mind. We also all agree on the importance of the rule of law. We all think it is important to get the railroad and road blockades to come to an end.

Where we differ between our side of the House and the member's side of the House seems to be whether it is worth giving a peaceful approach a chance. Is that not a rock song, Give Peace a Chance?

It would seem to me the time has not yet come to move too forcefully when we have not yet given peace a chance. Does the member agree that it makes some sense to take that approach before being more aggressive?

Relations with Indigenous PeoplesEmergency Debate

8:10 p.m.

Conservative

Jamie Schmale Conservative Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON

Madam Speaker, my friend across the way and I now serve on the indigenous affairs committee and I look forward to working with him in that capacity.

Yes, we on this side do agree that peace has a chance. I would also argue that the company representing this pipeline had talked about and consulted on this project for over five years. These conversations have gone on for quite some time. Eighty-five per cent of people within the Wet'suwet'en community support this project. The majority of hereditary chiefs support this project. The duly elected chief and council support this project. They see a path forward.

What Conservatives have pointed out many times, and which I did in my speech, is that there are activists who have an agenda that is totally separate from that of those first nations communities. These people want the end of oil and gas development in Canada. They want to shut down that vibrant economy of our country and are trying to glom on to this very important issue that five hereditary chiefs have with what is going on with this pipeline.

We are seeing these activists trying to hijack the agenda, but they do not have the best interests of first nations communities in their sights.

Relations with Indigenous PeoplesEmergency Debate

8:10 p.m.

NDP

Taylor Bachrach NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC

Madam Speaker, if I have it correct, the member said he believes the vast majority of Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs support this project. Since it seems he has quite a bit of understanding about the Wet'suwet'en hereditary governance system, I wonder if he could enlighten the House as to how the hereditary chiefs make their decisions about activities on their lands.

Second, he said that 85% of Wet'suwet'en people support the project. I would ask him where that statistic comes from. I have heard that before, but I have yet to trace where that particular number comes from or what it is based on. If he could enlighten the House, it would be much appreciated.

Relations with Indigenous PeoplesEmergency Debate

8:15 p.m.

Conservative

Jamie Schmale Conservative Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON

Yes, Madam Speaker, my friend across the way is correct. First nations communities do have their own way of working through different problems and I encourage them to continue to do so.

What we are seeing is blockades being put up, in some cases, by people who have no connection to these first nations communities. That is the issue. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce said today that it could be up to four days before supplies start flowing properly again. Businesses are trying to export goods and are being told their deadlines cannot be met.

CP Rail, CN Rail and VIA Rail are laying off people. Border crossings are being blocked. This is real. The government has let this process bubble and continue to evolve into the situation it is now. It is only because it has hit this crisis mode that the government has finally decided it should actually pay attention.

As I mentioned in my speech, the Prime Minister was in no hurry to get back from his UN Security Council trip to Africa to deal with the problems affecting Canadians. This is how we have gotten to this situation.

Yes, I think it is high time the government stops with its words and takes action.

Relations with Indigenous PeoplesEmergency Debate

8:15 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Paul-Hus Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC

Madam Speaker, we are here this evening to take part in an emergency debate.

Today, we all saw the response from the Prime Minister. It was the weakest response we have ever heard in Canada's modern history to a crisis like the one we are currently in.

The Liberals and the other opposition parties are currently talking about what may have led to this situation, but the thing that matters more to the Conservatives is the critical infrastructure, the railway and the blockade.

We can understand what pushed people, activists or certain first nations groups to do what they are doing, but as the saying goes, the end does not justify the means.

The Prime Minister forgot two key elements in his speech this morning. First, he forgot to clearly condemn the illegal actions of the radical activists. Then, he failed to present a plan of action to finally end the blockade and get our economy back on track. His statement is a full abdication of his responsibility and shows a flagrant lack of leadership.

We have to decide what Canada represents. Are we still a country that says yes to major national projects or must we kow-tow to activists who are trying to put the breaks on development? Are Canadian laws really laws? Are there two classes of citizens, those who must abide by the law without protesting and the rest? As my leader asked, will we let our economy be taken hostage by a small group that rejects the legal system that has been in place in our country for more than 150 years?

The Prime Minister claims that he is sensitive, more than any other prime minister before him, to the concerns of the first nations. However, that cannot live up to the truth.

I have a few examples of comments made by first nations members. Today, the House wants to debate Canada's indigenous problem of the past 150 years when the main issue is dismantling the blockade as quickly as possible. The economy is at risk. We can understand that there are indigenous peoples in Canada who have differences that they want to resolve and that they are looking for solutions. We all agree on that. However, the first thing that must be done is to tell people that a few dozen individuals have completely shut down Canada's rail network. That is a critical piece of infrastructure.

When it comes to critical infrastructure, billions are being spent on national defence, and hundreds of millions are being spent on public safety to protect Canadian infrastructure. This includes cyber-attacks, coastal defence and aerospace. We can put in whatever we want. Right now, a few dozen individuals, including many activists who are not indigenous, by the way, are on the tracks in Canada and are blocking Canada’s entire railway system. Do we think that this make sense? Do we think that we should be spending the entire evening until midnight talking about indigenous issues?

Could we talk about it tomorrow once we get the tracks cleared and the railway system up and running again? That is what is important. I do not understand how the coalition of the Bloc Québécois, the NDP and the Liberals could talk about indigenous issues in the broadest sense, while nothing is moving. We cannot wrap our heads around it. One day I would like to have a discussion with people from the other parties and have someone explain to businesses and the entire country how we can do this.

Let us go back to what indigenous people have already said about the current problem.

Chief Larry Nooski said that Coastal GasLink presents the Nadleh Whut'en First Nation with an unparalleled economic growth opportunity. They negotiated hard to ensure that the Nadleh people, including their young people, can benefit directly or indirectly from this project, while ensuring that the land and water will also be protected.

Hereditary chief Helen Michelle of Skin Tyee First Nation of the Wet'suwet'en has stated that most of the protesters were not even Wet’suwet’en. She added that her people gave Coastal GasLink the go-ahead, that they talked and talked to the elders, and brought them back to walk the territory where the Coastal GasLink is going. They are going to give it the go-ahead.

Hereditary chief Theresa Tait-Day of the Wet'suwet'en nation said that 85% of her people said yes to Coastal GasLink.

There is a very sensitive issue in Quebec, and I hope my Bloc friends are listening. Bill 21 is a very sensitive topic that most Quebeckers are unanimously in favour of. Some Quebeckers are against Bill 21. If those who oppose it decided to block the Louis-Hippolyte-Lafontaine bridge-tunnel and the Pierre-Laporte bridge in Quebec City because they are against Bill 21, would they be there for long? Would my Bloc colleagues be okay with them staying there and exercising their right to protest? No, they would have to leave before any discussion could happen. The same principle applies.

Is any particular cause more important than another? So important that it can be allowed to block the national economy?

If 85% of the community supports the project, that means 15% of the community does not. Should all our rail lines be blocked because 15% of the population does not agree? That makes no sense.

We must ask ourselves whether Canada can turn a blind eye to these illegal acts. We understand that they want to talk, but we need to intervene, particularly since everyone knows that the first nations in the region agreed to the project.

In Ontario, Tyendinaga Mohawk police chief Jason Brant reminded protestors that their actions were illegal and that they should leave the premises peacefully. He read a letter to protestors asking them to go home and to tell the Ontario Provincial Police that they intended to do just that. The police peacefully reminded people that they were committing an offence. The police officers did their job. They told the protestors that they could not stay there. We wanted peaceful measures and that is what happened. The police have not been aggressive. They said that they had received a letter from the court and that the protestors had to leave. They were not mean about it. It is when people fail to listen to police instructions that the problems begin.

With regard to public safety, rail systems were tampered with and the Minister of Transport is aware of that. When the blockades come down, the rail systems will have to be checked because it is dangerous for the trains. It is urgent that we put an end to the protests and get the rail system back up and running as quickly as possible.

The economic impact is huge, especially for passengers. Yes, passengers can take the bus or other forms of transportation. However, this also has an impact on the supply of products like propane and chlorine and on infrastructure.

It is not just about money. Some people will say that money is not important, since it grows on trees. That is what the Prime Minister thinks. However, businesses do not survive on the government's money; they survive on their own money. If they suffer losses, no one will compensate them, but let us not talk about that.

The municipalities need chlorine for water treatment. If there are chlorine shortages, this will become a public heath issue. There are many problems like this.

Yes, negotiations related to indigenous issues are important. We have indigenous affairs spokespersons to take care of that. However, what urgently matters today is clearing the rail line to get our economy back on track. Then we can begin the necessary discussions.

Relations with Indigenous PeoplesEmergency Debate

8:25 p.m.

Winnipeg North Manitoba

Liberal

Kevin Lamoureux LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Madam Speaker, we will have to agree to disagree. We have a lot riding on this.

The issue is not as simple as some might try to portray. I thought the Prime Minister was right on earlier today when he addressed the issue in a ministerial statement and appealed for people to be patient as we tried to work this thing through.

The consequences of taking an action prematurely can be very significant. It could hurt many of the individuals on all sides. The idea of coming up with a peaceful resolution is in the best interests of everyone. As I say, at times we just need to disagree.

Relations with Indigenous PeoplesEmergency Debate

8:25 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Paul-Hus Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for his remarks.

First of all, the Prime Minister's speech this morning said nothing. Thirteen days in, I can understand that he would be looking for a solution. However, as I said at the beginning of my speech, the end does not justify the means. Everyone is walking on eggshells and nobody wants to get their hands dirty because they are afraid of reprisals if there is an intervention. Nobody wants to relive the Oka crisis. Nobody wants a repeat of another crisis.

In light of the situation and the impact of this blockage on the Canadian economy, we cannot afford to let ourselves be threatened. We cannot live under threat. Nobody wants to threaten people and nobody wants to be threatened. It does not work that way. If the government decides to say nothing and just hope, how long will it last? It is fine if the conflict is resolved tomorrow or in 48 hours at most, but we need some kind of ultimatum to tell these people that their actions are illegal, that they are not working, and that the government will talk to them if they get out within 48 hours. There are ways of doing that, but I do not think sunshine and lollipops will get us very far.