Business of Supply  Madam Speaker, I would like to begin by acknowledging we are having this debate on the traditional territory of the Algonquin people. I would also like to express my extreme disappointment that the official opposition of this country has tabled such a divisive motion. It is indeed its leader and its party that are, as it says in their motion, “exploiting divisions within the Wet'suwet'en community.”

Business of Supply  Madam Speaker, the young indigenous people whom I met with in the office of the Minister of Northern Affairs were not radical activists. They were sensitive, young indigenous people expressing the importance of the land, water and air. One young woman, who had slept in the Minister of Northern Affairs' office for over 10 days, tearfully expressed to me how upsetting it was to see the images and hear from the people being arrested for what they believed in, friendships that began a year ago and then having to witness their new friend being arrested earlier this month.

Relations with Indigenous Peoples  Madam Speaker, that is a very important question. As I mentioned, it is very important to remember that the government does not have the authority to dictate the processes to the RCMP. It is very important to me to clearly express the problems of the citizens and the hereditary chiefs, and it is very important that we understand that it is not the role of parliamentarians to tell the police how to do their job.

Relations with Indigenous Peoples  Madam Speaker, the member's leadership in this has been extraordinarily important. As we have seen with the signing of the B.C. policy, it is very clear that Canada has gone beyond what was expected. We were able to articulate with the Government of British Columbia and at the B.C. summit of indigenous leaderships that there is a way forward that can be a model for the rest of the country.

Relations with Indigenous Peoples  Madam Speaker, I have been overwhelmed today and over this past week by the offers of help coming from all across the nation, all different parties and all different nations. People want to see us get through this in a peaceful way. We know this is the time, as we do not want to see this country in chaos, for us to all really redouble our efforts to figure out how we can do this in a peaceful way and to call upon all of the best ideas to come forward to make that happen.

Relations with Indigenous Peoples  Madam Speaker, again, it is a matter of us moving forward as a country, understanding that the custodians of the land and the stewardship of the land have been handed down by generations in traditional manners. It is really important, as we have been saying, that the nation will come to these decisions itself, but at the moment there are people who do see the Indian Act as a completely colonial structure that divided people, villagized them and put them away.

Relations with Indigenous Peoples  Madam Speaker, I thank the member and her former colleague, Romeo Saganash, for the very important work that he provided in terms of our providing his Bill C-262 as a baseline as we go forward, as a floor, to be able to legislate the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples here in Canada, as an example for the world.

Relations with Indigenous Peoples  Madam Speaker, it is an honour to stand here this evening on the unceded territory of the Algonquin people. First I want to thank the member for New Westminster—Burnaby for calling for this important debate this evening. It is important for us to be able to discuss the issues and possible solutions here in this place no matter what our party lines are.

Indigenous Affairs  Mr. Speaker, our government believes that dialogue is the best way to deal with this issue. Discussions with the hereditary chiefs of the Wet'suwet'en nation are under way. What is more, I spoke with Chief Woos on Sunday. I would like to reiterate our government's commitment to a joint meeting with the hereditary chiefs of the Wet'suwet'en nation and the Province of British Columbia.

Public Safety  Mr. Speaker, our government believes that dialogue is the best and most appropriate way to address these issues. We are committed to establishing, together with indigenous peoples, a relationship based on the affirmation of rights, respect, co-operation and partnership. We recognize that these are difficult times.

Indigenous Affairs  Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his advocacy on this really important topic. In August, the new recognition and reconciliation of rights policy for treaty negotiations in British Columbia was signed with the Government of British Columbia and the First Nations Summit. Treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements negotiated in B.C. will affirm indigenous rights without cede, surrender or extinguishment.

Supplementary Estimates (A), 2019-20  Madam Chair, I thank the member for talking about the calls to action that all Canadians feel we have to be part of. We are pleased to report that 80% of the calls for action that the federal government has responsibility for have either been completed or are well on their way. We have the other road map in the calls for justice from the missing and murdered indigenous women and girls commission, but our commitment to put the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples into legislation is very important.

Supplementary Estimates (A), 2019-20  Madam Chair, systems on the reserves are now maintained at a lower cost.

Supplementary Estimates (A), 2019-20  Madam Chair, there is a big difference between a long-term and a short-term advisory. None of the advisories that have been lifted have been reissued.

Supplementary Estimates (A), 2019-20  Madam Chair, I would have to disagree with the hon. member in that it is very clear on how it is laid out. Any community that would like to assert its jurisdiction on its children and families will begin the process of writing its child well-being law. The Anishinabek Nation is doing so many.