Jane Stewart

[Aboriginal Affairs, February 17th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, Chief Johnson was duly elected according to the custom election code of the first nations.

[Aboriginal Affairs, February 16th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, let me say that I have been down to Chatham—Kent. I have met with these agricultural groups. I have talked with them about their legitimate concerns.

In fact, over the course of the next three months we will continue to work with them to explain the importance of settling this claim and the method by which we hope we can all do so.

[Aboriginal Affairs, February 16th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, we are making good on a claim that was presented to us beginning back in 1973. This refers to the 1790 treaty where many first nations in southwestern Ontario ceded a vast tract of land to the crown in return for reserve lands and money.

The government has committed itself to settling outstanding claims and we will do that.

[Aboriginal Affairs, February 16th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, last night Canadians witnessed history in the making as the people of the Eastern Arctic elected the 19 men and women who, come April 1, will represent the first parliament of Nunavut.

As my colleague points out, their challenges will be many. They will fight to bring government and the decisions of government closer to the people of the Eastern Arctic. That will include ensuring the stabilization of economic development opportunities that currently exist in the Eastern Arctic and forging new relationships with Canadians who live in the south and those in circumpolar nations around the world.

[Aboriginal Affairs, February 11th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, it is clear in the Nunavut Act that there is nothing which will abrogate or derogate from the treaty rights that may exist for first nations in Manitoba.

I have had the opportunity to meet with Chief Bussidor of the Sahtu Dene to talk about her concerns. I have offered the services of a mediator to help her and her people negotiate with the Inuit on these issues.

[Aboriginal Affairs, February 2nd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, what I will point out is that the first nation has a legitimate right, accepted by the court of appeal, to set the leases in this particular circumstance.

The role that I feel responsible to play is to do what I can to bring the parties together to find a mutually acceptable way to implement this legitimate right of the first nation.

[Aboriginal Affairs, February 2nd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the question of the Musqueam first nation is a very complex one indeed. There is a contractual relationship between the first nation and the people living in the Musqueam park. There was a contract that was written in 1965 and the leases were to be reviewed 30 years later. This lease is legitimate. The first nation has a legitimate right to set the lease amounts. The federal court of appeal has actually said it is fair market value. That will be the process by which the lease will be signed.

In 30 years, indeed, the price of land has increased. It is very difficult for those people who are living in the park. As for my responsibility, I am glad to bring the parties—

[Aboriginal Affairs, February 1st, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, there has been advancement.

The hon. member may be making reference to Bill C-49 which is under debate in the House now. In that piece of legislation 14 first nations will achieve control over the lands that are theirs on reserve. Included in that is a commitment among those 14 first nations to present codes of review for marital property.

As we speak now there are no aspects in the Indian Act that focus on matrimonial property. As a result of this legislation there will be.

[Finance, February 1st, 1999]

moved:

That this House take note of the 11th report of the Standing Committee on Finance presented on Friday, December 4, 1998.

[Aboriginal Affairs, December 9th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, those who are before the courts challenging the Nisga'a agreement on constitutional issues say that it changes the Constitution. The view of this government and of eminent constitutional experts is that this is not about changing the Constitution at all, but it is about bringing the Constitution to light, to reconciling aboriginal issues in Canada, in British Columbia, for the first time in 100 years.