Ron Irwin

[Indian Affairs, June 13th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, as I indicated, this is clearly provincial. I have worked well with Mr. Cashore out there.

[Indian Affairs, June 13th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, there have been two blockades in B.C. in the last month: Upper Nicola and the one at Adams First Nations.

The blockade at Upper Nicola, as the hon. member knows, is down. The other is up. It is more sensitive than Upper Nicola because it was fish and this is an archaeological site. Artefacts have been found which the province has designated. The developer gave an undertaking that he would do an archaeological study, which he has not done. The province has sent him a letter under the B.C. heritage conservation act demanding that he do the study and cease the work. That has not been done.

Reformers said we were going to have three Okas there, which meant military force, if we did not follow their instructions. I would like to point out to the House that two men came forward at Upper Nicola. Their names were Stanley and Belleau. They went to the chiefs, talked to them with dignity, and the blockade at Upper Nicola came down. They were RCMP officers and a proud tradition did the job. Also, they were aboriginal RCMP officers and I want to commend them in the House.

[Aboriginal Affairs, June 1st, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member behind me says, Liberals are optimists, not pessimists. That probably describes the difference between Liberal members and Reform members.

We did an assessment last night. One whole section of the red book deals with aboriginal issues. It has been a difficult year, but I can say to the House that on every promise we made in the red book there has been medium to moderate to significant progress made across Canada.

It makes me proud as a member of the Liberal government and the Liberal Party that we have kept our word and done our job in difficult circumstances.

[Translation]

[Aboriginal Affairs, June 1st, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I believe the hon. member is wrong.

Other than the hon. leader making a commendable effort in French, I assume the question is: Are we trying to lift up expectations? Are we trying to settle? Are we trying to do the reasonable thing?

We are trying to do the reasonable thing. We are trying to do what most Canadians want us to do, to deal honourably and to find just and reasonable solutions. Merci bien.

[Aboriginal Affairs, June 1st, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. leader for his question.

As far as jurisdiction is concerned, this demonstration is clearly off reserve and is not within federal jurisdiction. I checked and the Upper Nicola Band does not have a specific claim which would put us in the picture. It is not a part of the B.C. treaty process. On these three grounds it is clearly provincial. However, if requested by the province, we are prepared to go in and do whatever we can to facilitate.

I am encouraged by several things. First, several significant aboriginal leaders have volunteered to help. The hon. member of the Reform Party in whose riding this is has talked to my executive assistant. He has offered some help. I am prepared to delegate someone if Mr. Cashore asks for help.

The other encouraging thing although the situation could get volatile is that Joe Gardner, manager of the Douglas Lake cattle ranch, the person who is most involved, has told the various ranchers to sit still. He has insisted that the dispute be resolved peacefully and we agree with his position. Hopefully we can get it resolved.

[Indian Affairs, May 29th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, unlike the Reform, I unequivocally withdraw that remark.

[Indian Affairs, May 29th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, once again the hon. member says there is nothing tangible. When we took over the government there were 70 or 80 illegally held houses north of 344. Now I believe we have it down to a dozen. We have a housing authority. South of 344 most of the houses are purchased; there are only three that are illegally held, and we are working on those. So there have been tangible results. There have been tangible results at the Mohawk round table and tangible results in individual negotiations with each of the three First Nations.

We are supposed to be honourable here. When the hon. member uses the death of two Mohawks and a funeral to further a political agenda, I think the hon. member falls below what is honourable in this House.

[Indian Affairs, May 29th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I disagree with the premise. On the houses north of 344, it was 100 per cent federal money, several million dollars. On the houses the Province of Quebec requested we purchase south of 344, there was not one cent of contribution from the Province of Quebec.

We went in there and set up the Mohawk negotiator, the facilitator and the mediator and we purchased those houses. All the money being spent north and south of 344 has been 100 per cent federal money.

It is okay for Mr. Ménard to sit there and give me a lecture, but if he is serious about doing it they should be at the table offering some kind of contribution, more than just tokenism.

[Aboriginal Affairs, May 19th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I am well aware of what is going on in Jackhead. This is under review by the department. I am pleased the hon. member has risen today because he has not risen in a week. Usually I find all 10 of his toes do not touch the ground.

Last Friday, this hon. member made an allegation against the member for Prince Albert-Churchill River. I thought today this hon. member would stand up and withdraw. He said the hon. member was honoured by the chiefs and he was in a conflict position. Not only was he not honoured but it was not a conflict. I would have thought that if he wanted work to progress with aboriginal people, he would take Fridays and speak about the dignity and respect we are supposed to bring to aboriginal people, not bring unjust accusations which he usually does on Fridays.

[Aboriginal Affairs, May 18th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, this is potentially a very volatile situation, and with my knowledge of the hon. member I am sure he would not want to exploit it.

The situation is that two individuals, two Mohawks, drowned. The Mohawks say that there is not enough property in which to bury them and they have cleared a small plot of ground, which I think is 20 feet by 20 feet. The mayor of Oka says that it is his property. Judge Réjean Paul has been there. I think the minister of security for Quebec has looked at it. We are trying to keep a lid on it, and I think it would be highly inappropriate in the circumstances for me to comment on it. It is better done quietly and privately under the aegis of Judge Réjean Paul.