Ron Irwin

[Aboriginal Affairs, May 2nd, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, let us talk about principle. The hon. member's riding is 30 per cent aboriginal. Within his riding I saw a certain generosity, which I do not find in the member, from the people of Terrace, Prince Rupert, Stewart, Smithers, Kitimat and Port Edward.

Out of curiosity last week I checked with the Vancouver office and did a comparison on Jim Fulton who represented the same area as the member. Jim Fulton sent 600 letters in four years regarding aboriginal people. This member has sent two letters in a year and a half-

[Aboriginal Affairs, May 2nd, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, we have been waiting for the famous aboriginal policy of the Reform Party. The leader has

done once again what he usually does. When he cannot deal with merits, when he cannot deal with compassion and when he cannot deal with issues, he personally attacks me.

I am doing my job. The hon. member should be doing his job if he is serious about helping the native people of the country.

[Aboriginal Affairs, May 2nd, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, unlike the leader of the Reform Party, what I say in private is exactly what I say in public.

With the aboriginal people I say just this. We have to scope out exactly what this means. That is part of the treaty process. If the leader of the Reform Party wants to know what I saw in my briefing books he should have been at the opening meeting with treaty 6 where I said just that. I signed a memorandum of understanding with treaty 6 in Alberta and said just that. It is in the public speech that was released. He probably got it from one of the Calgary papers.

We have to scope out exactly what this means. It is exactly what we did publicly in the treaty 6 memorandum of understanding. It is exactly what we will do with the Iroquois, with the Murray treaty in Quebec, always publicly and always straight up. We are making progress.

[Aboriginal Affairs, May 2nd, 1995]

The member asked a question. I am sure he wants to be informed.

In B.C. the treaty process is moving. I am pleased to announce it is now supported as of the weekend by the Lutheran bishop, the Ukrainian Catholic bishop, the Anglican bishop and the Roman Catholic bishop for the first time.

In Ontario we are negotiating with NAN for dismantling and moving jurisdiction of education in treaty 3 that is around Fort Frances, which the hon. member never gets to.

In Quebec we are working with all 10 First Nations plus the Inuit.

[Aboriginal Affairs, May 2nd, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, there is community based self-government with about 40 First Nations. There are the so-called land chiefs negotiations.

In Alberta we struck the first deal for moving gas and oil to aboriginal people, probably followed by another four or five.

In Saskatchewan there are nine co-management agreements. We are starting co-management in Saskatchewan.

In Manitoba we have dismantled the whole province. The province is now at the table.

[Indian Affairs, April 6th, 1995]

Just relax. I know I get you every time.

[Indian Affairs, April 6th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I would categorize this as more of a confession than an attack. I am glad the hon. member has raised that question because I think it is time to get positive.

What are we going to do about it? I think we could use the help of the Reform because the National Aboriginal Forestry Association has proposals for legislation. It represents 120 First Nations who are involved in forestry, 50 forestry companies, educational institutes and the Meadow Lake Integrated Management Program which does training. They have five goals all of which presumably the Reform will endorse.

If they work through a consultation process, which I think they will, and if we have legislation-

[Indian Affairs, April 6th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday was enlightening if for no other reason than the member for Kootenay East told the Vancouver Sun that all the companies were from his riding and would not name them.

In case the hon. member wants to know where the member for Kootenay East is, he is about three down and sits in the Reform Party. If he wants to be helpful, he obviously knows the names of the companies and he could quietly provide the RCMP with the information so that charges can be laid.

[Points Of Order, April 6th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday in question period I indicated that a charge had been laid in the Stoney matter. This was based on information that I had received. In fact, the charge has not been laid at this stage. It would be inappropriate for me to indicate if and when the RCMP is laying the charge. That information would better come from the RCMP itself.

[Forestry, April 5th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I suggest once again that the Reform has shown its true colours.

I will repeat that the ministry is in there; we have a forester in there. We have fly-overs. We have the RCMP and a charge has been laid.