House of Commons photoWon her last election, in 2000, with 56% of the vote.
Aboriginal Affairs November 30th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, the Nisga'a treaty is a historic undertaking among the Nisga'a, the province of British Columbia and the federal Government of Canada.
Negotiations have been going on for well over 20 years. I have travelled to the hon. member's riding and talked to citizens in that part of British Columbia. They feel they have been included. My view is that they want the treaty completed.
Annual Reports November 25th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, under the provisions of Standing Order 32(1), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, two reports: the 1997-98 annual report of the Nunavut Implementation Commission and the British Columbia Treaty Commission's annual report for 1998.
Aboriginal Affairs November 23rd, 1998
Mr. Speaker, indeed there was a terrible tragedy in the Shamattawa First Nation last week and our sincerest sympathies and condolences go to the family of Charles Redhead and to all community members in that first nation.
Indeed there is an issue before us in that community. I want to recognize and thank the Minister of Health for the support that he has shown that community in providing solvent abuse professionals and mental health professionals.
We have to work together to deal with this chronic problem in Shamattawa and we will do so.
Committees Of The House November 4th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 109, I am pleased to table, in both official languages, the government's response to the 14th report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts.
Aboriginal Affairs October 28th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member points out, it is a challenge to ensure that peoples in the north have access to good quality food.
The cost of transportation of perishable goods to the north is extraordinary. That is why it is important for us as a government and for territorial governments to work together to ensure that fresh vegetables and perishable goods are made available to communities in the north.
Aboriginal Affairs October 28th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, if we look at the Sahtu First Nation for example, there are real challenges there. What has happened is the chief and council are working with their community members. They have established a commission of inquiry that has made reports to the chief and council—not by the chief and council—with a number of recommendations that are now being worked on by the grassroots aboriginal people and their leaders to make sustainable development changes for that community.
Aboriginal Affairs October 28th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, let me give an example of how this partnership is working.
They have called for a forensic audit which we know will not help in the sustainable development—
Aboriginal Affairs October 28th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I take the challenges facing aboriginal people in Canada very, very seriously.
I can say that the solutions being recommended by the opposition will not work. They are the solutions we have been trying to apply for the last 100 years and we still have real challenges.
Rather, this government understands that if we are going to build sustainable solutions that will make the lives of aboriginal people in Canada better, we have to do it together. We have to do it with a planned approach. We have to change the relationship we have had in the past by building human capacity and develop our communities as entities in and of themselves.
Aboriginal Affairs October 28th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, first let us be clear that 90% of funding that comes through my department goes to First Nations for programs and services. Beyond that let us understand what the Reform Party is saying. It wants to cut money, it wants forensic audits, it wants to pit members in one community against each other. I will have none of it, none of it.
Aboriginal Affairs October 28th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I am glad the hon. member is visiting First Nations communities. With that experience maybe he can talk to his leader and his party and explain to them why cutting $1 billion out of the programs and services, which include houses and schools, to First Nations would be absolutely ridiculous.