Jane Stewart

[Aboriginal Affairs, June 11th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I am glad to report to the House that yesterday I, along with my colleagues the Secretary of State for Children and Youth, the Minister of Natural Resources and the Minister of Health, met with a delegation of the Dene from Deline. We talked about the historical impacts of uranium from the Port Radium mine.

One of the things we identified as being important was to get the facts straight, to share together and find a means to ensure that the issues we are dealing with are common and well understood. That would be part of the go forward strategy that we talked about yesterday.

[Aboriginal Affairs, June 11th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I absolutely deny what the hon. member is saying. They just do not get it.

The chief also said: “We were here before the white man came. The sharing is going to have to continue, but we are going to have a more focused working relationship”.

The people of British Columbia know that this can work. Nine out of ten support settling land claims with compensation. Seventy-two per cent say it will not harm the economy, in fact it will improve it.

The people of British Columbia appreciate the approach we are taking. They know this is the right track and it has been proven in other parts of the country—

[Aboriginal Affairs, June 11th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, there are so many points I would like to make. In the context of the question, it sounds like the member is assuming it applies only to some people, that British Columbia applies only to some of its residents. It is so obvious it applies to all. The member is so wrong when he says and tries to assume that first nations feel they are laying claim to all of British Columbia.

Chief Victor Jim from Wet'suwet'en said: “I think this is going to be good for the territory. It is going to be good for the economy and in the long run I think it will bring the aboriginal and non-aboriginal people together”. He says—

[First Nations Land Management Act, June 11th, 1998]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-49, an act providing for the ratification and the bringing into effect of the Framework Agreement on First Nation Land Management.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

[Aboriginal Affairs, June 10th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I will be happy to review the circumstances surrounding this case.

[Aboriginal Affairs, June 10th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, we are sitting at the table with the federal crown, the provincial crown and the First Nations. Together we will reconcile aboriginal rights in British Columbia.

Is the hon. member suggesting we should legislate compensation? How much is she prepared to pay for that? They are saying we should legislate without true certainty. How much are they prepared for the lack of certainty in their approach? They say we should talk about cash, not land. How much is she prepared to put on the table?

[Aboriginal Affairs, June 10th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, aboriginal rights have to be reconciled in British Columbia. The best place to do that is at the negotiating table where all parties who are aware of their fiscal limitations come in a very practical way to resolve those issues step by step.

It is a fiscally responsible approach. It is a Liberal approach. It is a Canadian approach. It is where we will find progress being made on this very important aspect of modern history.

[Aboriginal Affairs, June 10th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, clearly we understand the repercussions.

We have been at the table with all the parties in British Columbia. We are settling comprehensive claims right across this country. We are doing it in a way that is consistent with Canadian values which recognize that aboriginal rights exist, that they must be reconciled in a modern Canada and that it must be done in a fair and equitable way.

That is what the people of British Columbia want. That is what all Canadians want.

[Aboriginal Affairs, June 10th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, British Columbia belongs to all of its citizens.

There are rights, there are interests that have to be reconciled, and in our view the best place to reconcile those interests is at the treaty table where they can be negotiated fairly, openly and in a manner of trust.

[Aboriginal Affairs, June 9th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the government is concerned with the potential impacts of historical uranium mining in the Northwest Territories. Along with my colleague, the Minister of Natural Resources, I am looking forward to meeting with representatives of the Deline tomorrow.