moved for leave to introduce Bill C-60, an act respecting an agreement between Her Majesty in right of Canada and the Pictou Landing Indian Band.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed.)
House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 1993, with 53% of the vote.
Pictou Landing Indian Band Agreement Act December 5th, 1994
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-60, an act respecting an agreement between Her Majesty in right of Canada and the Pictou Landing Indian Band.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed.)
Indian Affairs November 24th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, I started off this term hoping that I would turn my hon. friend into a lovable and committed federalist. Since he is using my answers for questions, I think I am 60 per cent there.
Indian Affairs November 24th, 1994
Go and see for yourselves instead of sitting here making smart remarks. The issue is not so much self-government in Nunavut. It is bringing education, it is handling 14-year old children who have children, it is bringing nutrition, it is bringing the future and that is what we are committed to.
Indian Affairs November 24th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, once again I totally agree with my friend. He has a perception of my portfolio that I sometimes find lacking in other members of this House.
He has pointed out the cost of food mail. A gallon of milk in Nunavut is $12. There is nutrition that does not exist. We have $14 million in food mail. I do not think it is enough and I for one will fight within my ministry and other ministries to improve that.
Aboriginal Affairs November 22nd, 1994
Mr. Speaker, what Reformers fail to point out is that the population of aboriginal people is double that in the so-called white community.
We welcome the report. We will work within the report. I am sure at the end of four years we will have a much better system in place than that which we inherited.
Aboriginal Affairs November 22nd, 1994
Mr. Speaker, as other ministers have indicated I welcome the Auditor General's report. It is a very important instrument to my ministry to ensure that we improve.
As well as looking at what is in there and acting on it we will be working on housing conditions, greater employment skills development and things that the Minister of Human Resources Development has indicated today. We will improve.
The aboriginal people have a saying: Walk in my moccasins. I am sure if Reformers were in government there would be no moccasins for the aboriginal people. They talk about failures but they refuse to accept that there are successes. In 1968 there were only 600 aboriginal people in post-secondary schools. Because of Liberal policies over the years there are now 150,000 aboriginal people in colleges. That is success.
Apex Ski Resort November 21st, 1994
Mr. Speaker, there is a man in my friend's riding named Tom Landecker. He wrote a letter. I adopt the method he is proposing. He uses the ski area. He says: "Every time I do so I am reminded of the 100-year history of the relations between our two communities, a history littered with broken promises and missed opportunities".
At the end of it he says: "The only resolution to this situation is through mediation of the provincial government". I think it is appropriate and is something that is being done. If it breaks down then there is the recourse to the court, which is happening as we speak.
Apex Ski Resort November 21st, 1994
Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member stated this has been going on for about three weeks. The deputy minister, John Walsh, who is also my nephew by marriage, by Ojibway custom, has been meeting with senior officials of the band. Some proposals have been put forward. I am not at liberty to state what they are. I do not think negotiations are going well and the province of B.C. is bringing injunctive action this morning.
I do not know the results of the injunctive action. My hon. friend and I will probably hear at the same time and we will know the results of the injunction later today.
Committees Of The House November 17th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 109, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to the fifth report of the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs.
Royal Commission On Aboriginal Peoples October 26th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, there are two parts to that. The first is that we will not implement. I find this odd coming from the Reform Party which has not yet voted for one piece of aboriginal legislation in 11 months either in this House or at the committee.
Talking about seriousness, we are treating this seriously. I think it is about time the Reform Party look at its obligations as members of Parliament and start treating the aboriginal people of this country seriously and not just an election issue for 10 per cent of the population.