House of Commons photoWon her last election, in 2000, with 56% of the vote.
Aboriginal Affairs February 10th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, without question aboriginal people in this country need the help of all of us. When I look at the agenda of the party opposite, it would cut $920 million per year from my department's budget. That is money for education, for housing, for water and sewers, all those things aboriginal people in this country need so desperately.
Aboriginal Affairs February 10th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I recognize the contribution the hon. member has made. But I have to wonder why, when there are so many good examples of strong healthy aboriginal communities in this country, they never find their way into the questions and the comments of the members opposite.
Aboriginal Affairs February 10th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I have made very clear the responsible approach we are taking with regard to this letter.
I have to ask what the motivation is of this opposition. I guess it puts me in mind of a comment made by a political forebear of mine, Sir Wilfrid Laurier, who said that it is easy to raise prejudices.
In his recent book John Ralston Saul, a Canadian philosopher, says it is a major responsibility of those with power not to raise prejudices. I believe that is why we are on this—
Aboriginal Affairs February 10th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, what I indicated was that the letter was not conveyed to the chief by me or through official channels.
I would like to say, though, that as I went through the facts yesterday, there are some other facts the House should consider.
First of all, for the last week there have been only allegations and unfounded innuendoes. The Reform Party has been undermining public servants. It has been challenging duly elected chiefs and councils with no evidence.
I quote the hon. member who said: “It really is easy to draw these conclusions, however, we do not have the evidence”. No evidence.
Why do they not wait for the investigation to conclude and then we will deal with the facts?
Aboriginal Affairs February 9th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, obviously the opposition prefers to deal in innuendo and allegations. Let me just get the facts on the table again for the House.
First, it is absolutely inappropriate that Mr. Starlight's letter found its way into the hands of Chief Whitney.
Second, that letter was not conveyed by me or by any officials in my department.
Third, I am concerned that it may have come from my department and therefore I have demanded an investigation to be done. I reviewed the process with the privacy commissioner and he said that this is a reasonable approach.
I think it is they who are like the Titanic and going down.
Indian Affairs February 9th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, it is not usual that the department would intervene in a circumstance like this.
As I mentioned before in this House, which the Deputy Prime Minister has made clear, the facts are that we have an investigation in the department under way to follow the path which that letter took in my department. We have reviewed the process with the privacy commissioner, who has said that our approach is reasonable. Until the investigation is complete, there is no point in making a decision on this question.
Indian Affairs February 9th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, there is an ongoing RCMP investigation.
Indian Affairs February 9th, 1998
No, Mr. Speaker.
Indian Affairs February 4th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, we have a very strange pattern that has evolved as a result of questions from that party.
First of all, I would note that last fall the members for Dewdney—Alouette and Edmonton North were forced to admit that allegations they made in this House were false and without fact.
Today the member for Edmonton North is again smearing a former member of this House, with no truth and no proof.
Yesterday in the paper the member for Skeena had to admit that the accusations he is making about Chief Whitney are based on something for which he has no evidence to support.
Indian Affairs February 4th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, if the hon. member will wait, we will discover that as a result of the investigation.
The message that this party is giving to grassroots aboriginal people is that we believe in the existence of aboriginal rights. We understand that our role is to reflect those rights in Canadian society. Through our statement of reconciliation and our response to the royal commission, we have shown that we have a plan and a vision to build harmony, which is a breakthrough for aboriginal people in this country.
We see none of that in the platform of the party of the hon. member.