House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2000, with 43% of the vote.
Aboriginal Affairs October 20th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, if the hon. member would read the supreme court judgment, he would see it clearly says that there is treaty right for fishing, gathering and hunting. That is pretty clear in that judgment. It also says this treaty right is a regulated right and not an unfettered right.
Certainly we are working with all the groups to make sure that we have a resolution that we can all live with. That is why we have a federal representative working with all the groups at this time.
Fisheries October 20th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, last Friday I announced in the House the appointment of the federal representative, Mr. Mackenzie. Mr. Mackenzie is now out talking to the parties in Nova Scotia. He will be meeting with both aboriginal and non-aboriginal communities.
His appointment was welcomed by all the groups as a very important step. I have all the confidence in Mr. Mackenzie. I think he will do an excellent job. He is out there talking to the parties right now. Let us let him do his job.
Fisheries October 19th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, as Minister of Fisheries and Oceans I want to ensure that we create more jobs out there.
If the hon. member has been listening, we are talking about emerging products, marketing some of their products and aquaculture. All the things I am talking about will create new jobs in the area of fisheries and oceans.
Fisheries October 19th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, it is obvious that the member does not understand the issue. This is about a treaty right which is recognized by the Supreme Court of Canada.
Over and over again we have said that we recognize and respect that treaty right. We will work within the spirit of the supreme court judgment.
That is exactly what we are doing now. We have appointed a federal representative. That federal representative is talking to all the groups right now. We are looking at a long term solution to the issue.
Indian Affairs October 18th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development is meeting with the aboriginal communities from Atlantic Canada right now. We are doing what we said we would do, which is to have a dialogue and make sure that we talk.
The supreme court ruling clearly said that there is a treaty right for fishing, for gathering and for hunting. We respect that right. Now we need to make sure that we get around the table and start working with the parties that are affected, including the provincial governments, to come to a long term solution.
Fisheries October 18th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, it should be pretty clear to everybody in the House that it is better to negotiate than to litigate. That is our position. We want to negotiate. We want to make sure that we sit around the table.
We have always said it is through dialogue and co-operation that we are going to get the real solution, not through going back to the courts, not through asking that we have another look at the supreme court ruling. We have a supreme court ruling. We will recognize that right. We will live within the spirit of that judgment.
Fisheries October 18th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, I think the government's position is very clear. We very much respect the supreme court ruling that there is a treaty right. We said that we would live within the spirit of that judgment. In fact, there was a meeting this morning with chiefs from Atlantic Canada to look at how we can move on the process. My colleague the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development is continuing to meet with them to see how we can look at the broader implications and continue that discussion so we can have a long term solution on this issue.
Fisheries October 15th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, I have been to Atlantic Canada before the hon. member even knew the issue existed.
I met with all the commercial groups. I met with the aboriginal groups. We have been working with them. We will be willing to meet with them. We now have a federal representative who will start working on the long term arrangement which is really the important part. It is extremely important that we sit down to ensure that the aboriginal communities can exercise their treaty rights for the benefit of their members. We are going to continue to do that.
Fisheries October 15th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, that is total rubbish. We have been working very hard. We have had both a short term and a long term plan.
I know Mr. James MacKenzie who is from Nova Scotia will do an excellent job to make sure we sit down, get all the parties together, and have a long term arrangement.
Meanwhile we have a regulatory fishery out there. We are ensuring that we have interim agreements, but this should not reflect on our long term arrangement. That is why Mr. MacKenzie has been asked. I am very happy that someone of his calibre has accepted this position.
Fisheries October 15th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, what is really important today is that we will have a federal representative who will talk to aboriginal and non-aboriginal groups and sit down to make sure we look at the long term arrangement in the fisheries area.
In terms of the broader issues, my colleague, the Indian affairs minister, is working very hard so that we can also deal with the broader issues that go beyond the fisheries as well.
We are making excellent progress. Why will not that party support that progress? Why will it not support aboriginal people and work with us instead of always trying to tear down what we are trying to build up?