Madam Speaker, I am disappointed. I am disappointed by consecutive Liberal and Conservative governments that always use indigenous people as a gambling chip. Whether it is Conservatives today using indigenous people as a gambling chip to “own the libs” or the Liberals consistently neglecting their responsibility for indigenous people, both are immense travesties in this place.
When it comes to clean water, which the member mentioned, I want to correct the record on the history of clean water. The reason we are debating clean water legislation today is that the Conservative government of the past litigated in court and it was deemed inappropriate. It was deemed illegal. The Conservatives were attempting to take control over indigenous people's water and the court said no way. Now the Liberals are coming with another inferior piece of legislation that is almost identical to the Conservatives' piece of legislation. That is the problem that exists when it comes to clean water.
When it comes to truth and reconciliation, we witnessed the largest indigenous protest in Canada's history, called Idle No More, to kick Stephen Harper to the curb. Indigenous people did that. We stood on our rights. We stood on the shoulders of giants who led the way, our ancestors in particular. That will never allow us to see dignity or pride ever again.