Jane Stewart

[British Columbia, June 9th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, let us look at the difference between the approaches here. First we have the Reform who opposes the Nisga'a agreement in principle. We have the Reform who says that we can legislate away the constitutional rights of aboriginal people. We have the Reform Party that six months later, after the Delgamuukw decision, finally starts talking about it and then of course wants to bring in the army anyway.

If we look at our approach we are making progress with the Nisga'a. We understand and support the supreme court's recommendation that we negotiate solutions. Most important, the day after the Delgamuukw decision I was in British Columbia with our partners who are all at the table recognizing that to make progress on this very important issue we must be together.

[British Columbia, June 9th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, our position is supported by the first nations. Our position is supported by the province of British Columbia. Our position is supported by all the economic sectors in British Columbia.

It is about negotiating in good faith and in a peaceful fashion around the table, not what these guys recommend when they talk about Ipperwash.

As I mentioned yesterday, when the hon. member for Skeena suggested the only solution in that case was to call in the army that must be negotiation Reform style.

[British Columbia, June 9th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, look at the progress that has been made under the government. When we took office in 1993 there was one table of negotiations occurring in British Columbia. Now there are over 60. Thirty of those have framework agreements that are moving toward agreements in principle.

Perhaps, if hon. members opposite would go into their ridings and join the celebrations that occur as we make progress in this process, they would see that we have the right approach.

[British Columbia, June 9th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, they ask how much for land claims but they do not ask how much for hepatitis C. Where is their compassion here? Systematically they undermine the aboriginal people. It is an outrage.

[British Columbia, June 9th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, as usual opposition members have it all wrong. When we talk about money and talk about investments the people of British Columbia understand that by settling land claims we will improve the economy of British Columbia. Whether it be the Laurier Institute or KPMG, the issue here is the huge cost of doing nothing or at least of following their approach.

[Aboriginal Affairs, June 9th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the opposition is totally out of touch on this. What it wants to do is legislate away aboriginal rights and blame aboriginal people for the economic woes in British Columbia.

The people of British Columbia understand it. In an Angus Reid poll this weekend nine out of ten British Columbians believe that aboriginal people have legitimate land claims and should be compensated. Seventy-two per cent say that settling these claims will either improve B.C.'s investment climate or have no impact on the business investment.

[Aboriginal Affairs, June 9th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, as I said yesterday there is nothing in the comments of the opposition members that suggests anything except that they want to fearmonger and find scapegoats.

Let us be clear on what the First Nations are saying. I will quote Chief Ed John of the B.C. summit who said “First Nations share a common objective with other British Columbians that a strong and productive economy benefits everyone and we are prepared to do what we can to ensure there is economic stability in British Columbia”.

[Division No. 215, June 9th, 1998]

moved that the bill be concurred in.

[Aboriginal Affairs, June 8th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, on the contrary it is the opposition members that just do not get it. Perhaps they should read the supreme court decision which said that the solution to reconciling aboriginal rights in modern times is found at the negotiation table. What Reformers do is focus on fearmongering, on scaremongering, on looking for a scapegoat.

The answer is found at the table where all the parties, the First Nations, the province, the federal government, business and the people of British Columbia, support peaceful negotiated resolutions.

[Aboriginal Affairs, June 8th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, let us be clear that there is nothing being recommended by the opposition that will bring certainty to the issues in British Columbia. Rather, its suggestion that there is some unilateral legislation that will solve issues of aboriginal rights is preposterous. It is a recipe for confrontation which is not what we need in British Columbia.