Jim Prentice

[Aboriginal Affairs, June 1st, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member opposite knows full well the very difficult circumstances that the former Liberal government has left to Canadians and left to this administration.

He knows full well the circumstances that relate to social services on reserves: housing and education. This is a legacy of 13 years of Liberal ineptitude and mismanagement. It is something which this government intends to deal with, and we will deal with it in consultation with aboriginal peoples.

[Aboriginal Affairs, May 30th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, I am cognizant of your previous admonition that we should not resort to barnyard references, so it is difficult to respond.

I would simply point out what Gary Doer said, and it seems to have found some disfavour with my colleagues opposite:

--the former government did not put the Kelowna money in the fiscal framework as every journalist here knows.

It was more Liberal rhetoric and empty promises.

[Aboriginal Affairs, May 30th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, if we are going to quote the western premiers, let us be fair and let us look at what the premiers actually said. What Mr. Doer commented on primarily was 13 years of Liberal empty promises and corruption. He said specifically:

We don't want to be unfair to the [Conservative] government because the former government did not put the Kelowna money in the fiscal framework as every journalist here knows.

[Aboriginal Affairs, May 30th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, first, I wish to point out that the Premier of Nunavut has been supportive of the Conservative budget. Second, if we are going to quote Mr. Doer from the premiers' conference yesterday, let us really quote him. He said:

And if the new government wants to do some more constructive priority-setting under that accord my view is they should have the right, any new government should have the right--

That is what we intend to do. We will work together with first nations to set priorities, get results, accountability, targeted expenditures, and not what the Liberals provided.

[Aboriginal Affairs, May 30th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, I will say what is morally wrong. It was 13 years of Liberal ineptitude, mismanagement, incompetence, ducking, dodging, delaying, and cut and run tax and spend liberalism. Our government will not do that.

[Aboriginal Affairs, May 29th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, in the recent budget put forward by this government more money was provided for aboriginal Canadians than was ever provided under the previous Liberal government.

The reason aboriginal Canadians are prepared to work with this government is that we are consulting with them. We have established working groups to determine how that money will be spent. They know that what they will see from this government is actions and results and not the sort of empty rhetoric, empty promises and voidness that they saw from the Liberal government.

[Aboriginal Affairs, May 29th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, I am astounded that the hon. member would have the temerity to stand in the House after the Auditor General's report, which is a sad epitaph on 13 years of Liberal mismanagement.

From the time of the 1993 red book, followed by throne speech after throne speech of empty promises and rhetoric, finally in 2004 the Liberal government said, “The conditions in too many aboriginal communities can only be described as shameful”, a shame which the Liberals created. I am surprised they would have the audacity to raise that suggestion in the House.

[Aboriginal Affairs, May 16th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, the Auditor General's report is in and it is a sad and appalling indictment of 13 years of Liberal government in action. This is what the Auditor General said:

Federal organizations have made unsatisfactory progress in implementing almost half of our recommendations, generally those addressing issues having the greatest impact on the lives of First Nations people and Inuit.

By contrast, in the past 100 days, this government has done more for aboriginal Canadians than the Liberals did in 13 years. We have a national drinking water strategy. The budget includes $300 million for northern housing, $300 million for off reserve housing, an additional $150 million--

[Aboriginal Affairs, May 10th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to advise the House that a final Indian residential schools settlement agreement has been approved by all the parties, including the Government of Canada.

I am pleased to inform this House that a final Indian residential schools settlement agreement has been approved by all parties, including the Government of Canada.

The Hon. Frank Iacobucci, the government's representative, has very capably led these intense and complex negotiations with legal representatives, including former students, the Catholic, Anglican, United and Presbyterian Churches and the Assembly of First Nations and other aboriginal organizations. I think it important that the record of the Parliament of Canada note that Grand Chief Fontaine of the Assembly of First Nations deserves special recognition in this regard. Together the parties have achieved a fair, lasting and historic agreement.

Together, the parties have reached a fair, lasting and historic agreement.

The settlement agreement must now be presented for approval by the courts in nine jurisdictions across Canada over the coming months.

I am also pleased to announce today, together with my colleague, the hon. Minister of Canadian Heritage, who is with me, the immediate launch of an advanced payment program for eligible former Indian residential school students 65 years of age or older, when the settlement agreement negotiations were initiated on May 30, 2005.

The government recognizes that many former students of residential schools are growing older and that the funds must be distributed as soon as possible. Former students eligible for the $8,000 advance payment may apply by completing the application form, which is now available.

The government recognizes the sad legacy of Indian residential schools. We hope that this settlement agreement will bring closure to this unfortunate chapter in our history and help us to move forward in a new spirit of partnership with aboriginal Canadians.

[Aboriginal Affairs, May 9th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, we have heard from aboriginal Canadians that they have full confidence in the ability of the government to deal with aboriginal issues.

The budget, which has been put forward, is a wonderful budget with more for aboriginal Canadians than ever emerged from that side of the House, in terms of northern housing, off reserve housing, increases in additional funds for women, children and for other purposes.

Aboriginal Canadians will have confidence in this government.