John Duncan

[Fisheries, November 27th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the Nisga'a land claims negotiations in northwest British Columbia apparently include a Nass River aboriginal commercial fishery allocation.

This flies in the face of the five aboriginal fisheries cases currently being argued before the Supreme Court. The provincial aboriginal affairs minister in B.C. has stated that whatever the results of these cases, commercial fishing must not be entrenched in B.C. treaties.

What continues to motivate the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans to promote inclusion of a racially based commercial fishery in B.C. treaties?

[Indian Affairs, November 8th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I point out to the minister that this organization has had a cash flow constantly throughout the years, despite the cutting off of federal funds. There are still moneys coming in from the previous loans portfolio and they are being mismanaged, poorly managed.

I ask the minister again if he will not cease and desist with this president running this organization to the detriment of the Métis aboriginal people they are meant to benefit.

[Indian Affairs, November 8th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday I asked the Minister of Industry about the misappropriation of funds at the Ontario Metis and Aboriginal Association.

In 1993 the minister's department was aware that its guidelines were being seriously broken and the association was declared insolvent by BDO Dunwoody.

How can the minister continue to leave President Henry Wetelainen in charge under these circumstances, especially since the minister said, on Goldhawk in June, that he would investigate and act?

[Indian Affairs, November 7th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I would like a commitment from the minister that he has indeed launched an investigation.

The Ontario Metis and Aboriginal Association has been a haven for patronage, cronyism and grossly irresponsible spending. The real losers in this scenario are the aboriginal people who have lost access to capital for improving their quality of life.

Can the aboriginal people of Canada expect anything more than platitudes from the red book when it comes to righting wrongs of the type perpetrated on them by the Henry Wetelainens of this country?

[Indian Affairs, November 7th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Industry has been aware of the abuse of his department's aboriginal business development programs and specifically the role played by Mr. Henry Wetelainen, president of the Ontario Metis and Aboriginal Association, based in Sault Ste. Marie.

This individual has misappropriated millions of dollars of taxpayers' money, most of it on companies which are now bankrupt or inactive.

In June the minister promised to investigate and act. Why has he failed to clear up this misappropriation of funds?

[Aboriginal Land Claims, October 30th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, this month the B.C. Minister of Aboriginal Affairs publicly stated that settling B.C. land claims will cost $10 billion. The federal minister's department this month estimated costs of $5 billion. My numbers tally with those of the provincial minister.

When there are radically different estimates on such a critical issue, does the minister not agree that the public deserves financial transparency and a cost-benefit analysis on this issue?

[Aboriginal Land Claims, October 30th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, according to polls the number one issue in British Columbia is aboriginal issues. Among the provincial political parties there is a growing divergence of views on aboriginal issues.

With the current lame duck NDP administration in the waning days of its mandate, will the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development assure the House that he will not entertain completion of any comprehensive agreements, such as the Nisga'a claim, until there is a new administration with a fresh mandate?

[Petitions, October 18th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the third petition is signed by 41 constituents who pray that Parliament ensure the current provisions of the Criminal Code of Canada prohibiting assisted suicide be enforced vigorously and that Parliament make no changes in the law which would sanction or allow the aiding or abetting of suicide or active or passive euthanasia.

[Petitions, October 18th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition is signed by 40 of my constituents who pray and request that Parliament not amend the human rights code, the Canadian Human Rights Act or the charter of rights and freedoms in any way which would tend to indicate societal approval of same sex relationships or of homosexuality, including amending the human rights code to include in the prohibited grounds of discrimination the undefined phrase sexual orientation.

[Petitions, October 18th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure today to present three different petitions from my constituency.

The first is signed by 33 of my constituents who pray that Parliament enact Bill C-206 at the earliest opportunity so as to provide a statutory foundation for a national witness relocation and protection program.