Ron Irwin

[Indian Affairs, March 15th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I was advised about this problem early this morning. It is causing me a lot of concern.

The information I have is that in 1973 the Kahnawake band council used section 81(1)(h) of the Indian Act which governs the use of buildings on reserves to establish bylaws regarding the residency of band members and other persons on a reserve.

My understanding is there is a case before the courts relating to this matter and it would be inappropriate to comment further. Through this legal process I hope what the hon. member is concerned about can be defined exactly. That is whether or not this contravenes the charter of rights.

[Aboriginal Self-Government, March 10th, 1994]

My hon. friend I think should know that there is a system in place through the First Nations, through the assemblies, through the various tribal councils, to do just that.

As we said initially, there will be six months of discussions with these people. As we said, we will do it within a timeframe that is acceptable to the First Nations. It will be done. There will be ratification. It will be done very democratically. I am sure at the end we will collectively have something that my friend will be very proud of as a Canadian.

[Aboriginal Self-Government, March 10th, 1994]

Really. Seriously. I do not analogize numerical superiority with intellectual superiority. I would like to work with my hon. friend because if the Reform Party truly wants self-sufficiency and self-government and self- determination, these are issues that we have to define collectively.

It is not like doing a budget. It is not like altering a figure. It is really altering opinions or mindsets. We want to work together. Consequently, we have entered into what will be extensive discussions with the Manitoba chiefs. They will be difficult, they will be hard. We are not kidding ourselves. But they will be done.

Our commitment to self-government, self-determination and self- sufficiency is in the red book. Because it is difficult does not mean that this government will shy away from it. I hope that my hon. friend will work with us.

[Aboriginal Self-Government, March 10th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, that is a difficult question.

[Bill C-16, March 10th, 1994]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-16, an act to approve, give effect to and declare valid an agreement between Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada and the Dene of Colville Lake, Déline, Fort Good Hope and Fort Norman and the Metis of Fort Good Hope, Fort Norman and Norman Wells, as represented by the Sahtu Tribal Council, and to make related amendments to another act.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed.)

[Indian Affairs, March 9th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, that is a difficult question about one of the most serious problems we have in Canada.

It is so sad in a nation as rich as ours that we see day in and day out a loss of aboriginal children by fire. We see suicides. We saw them recently right across the country.

I have seen the houses; they are firetraps. I have seen the lack of economic opportunity. At the same time I have seen successful businesses, aboriginal doctors, aboriginal lawyers, aboriginal teachers and great aboriginal leaders. They are saying one thing to us, that we should get rid of or dismantle the Department of Indian Affairs.

As a consequence I have asked aboriginal leaders or chiefs in Manitoba to do so in the province of Manitoba. It will be the lead province to dismantle Indian Affairs. Hopefully it will be the model for the rest of the country.

I know my hon. friend from Churchill will be in the lead because it is time to bring, in the words of the Prime Minister, dignity, honour, self-reliance, self-government to a people who are held, not necessarily embodied, certainly as supplicants under an archaic act. It is time to press on.

[Indian Affairs, March 7th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, as I indicated, this will be a priority of the government. As to the specific remedy, I cannot answer at this stage. In due course over the next few months I will be prepared to sit down with the hon. member and discuss it and show him what we are doing.

[Indian Affairs, March 7th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his question. I am aware of the Auditor General's report and I am aware of our response.

Having come from private practice I realize that it was not made well. I am not satisfied that the response is adequate. This will be a priority on our agenda once we get over the initial stages of implementing the new government.

[Indian Affairs, February 24th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I think it is very important. The Reform Party of Canada has asked me several times if I at a private meeting said that the Reform Party of Canada hates Indians. As I said yesterday in this House, I do not recall making such a statement and others do not recall me making such a statement.

However, if I did or even if the Reform Party thinks I did, and I think that is important, let me state categorically to all members of this House and to all Canadians that I do not think the Reform Party of Canada hates Indians.

Notwithstanding partisanship, Mr. Speaker, the House of Commons must continue to function. All of us in this House must work together to improve the quality of life for all the First Nations of Canada.

[Indian Affairs, February 24th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, it is a different government.

We started with the premise that the inherent right of self-government exists. We look at communities, watersheds and cultural aspects. We do not say that an aboriginal person on a reserve is any different from an aboriginal person off that reserve during negotiations.

It is very sensitive. I know there is strong feeling within the bands across Canada. Part of the problem is on the return. No one knew this was coming on the return. Everybody estimated it would be about 10 per cent of those people reinstated wanting to return to the reserve. In fact, it is closer to 40 or 50 per cent and it provides tremendous pressures on the chiefs.

Notwithstanding all that, dealing with the people who legitimately belong to bands is part of the ongoing discussions. That is the policy of this government.