House debate  Mr. Speaker, I am happy to rise to speak in response to the question from the hon. member for Yukon. Our government firmly asserts its presence in the north on multiple fronts, sending a strong message to the world on Canada's right and resolve to protect its territories. Measures taken include committing $720 million for a new polar class ice breaker, the John G.

Indian Oil and Gas Act  Madam Speaker, I listened to the member's speech with great interest. There was a fair amount of comment on the case that went to the Supreme Court. I point out that its final decision was important from the standpoint that not only did it not find fault with the government, but in a seven to zero decision, the court said that the government had no authority to invest the money in the way it was contemplated by the legal suit.

House debate  Mr. Speaker, this government is committed to providing quality health care services to first nation communities, including Garden Hill. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family following the illness of their children and the loss of their son. The government is committed to addressing the broader health issues for all Canadians and to continue working with first nation communities to attend to the determinants of health of its first peoples.

Family Homes on Reserves and Matrimonial Interests or Rights Act  Mr. Speaker, the member for Mississauga South has once again demonstrated that the Liberals have lost total sight of the objective of the bill. We have three Conservative members on the aboriginal affairs committee who have an extensive number of reserves in their ridings. We are not naive.

Family Homes on Reserves and Matrimonial Interests or Rights Act  Madam Speaker, I would like to express my supreme disappointment at the hoist motion put forward by the Liberal critic on aboriginal affairs. There was no signal that this would happen. The committee has been planning and preparing for witnesses for testimony. The same opposition party, in the last Parliament, expressed every desire to get this bill before committee and it has now done just the opposite.

First Nations Control of First Nations Education Act  Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to rise to speak to Bill C-33, an act to establish a framework to enable first nations control of elementary and secondary education and to provide for related funding and to make related amendments to the Indian Act and consequential amendments to other acts.

Business of Supply  Duncan Scott had a plan for their education all right; it was the residential schools. Duncan Scott said that the residential schools had to be mandatory, because it was to “get rid of the Indian problem... to continue until there is not a single Indian in Canada that has not been absorbed”.

Indian Oil and Gas Act  Mr. Speaker, I listened closely to the speech by the member for Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel and was most grateful to hear his comments. There was some discussion in your speech about the environment. I know that the bill deals with the environmental measures in a significant way.

Indian Oil and Gas Act  Mr. Speaker, I would like to add a comment to the response from the member for Labrador. The NDP representative on committee has said that the consultation on the bill would serve as a potential model for other consultative mechanisms. I think it is quite clear that we have seen a very good example here, and continuing support.

Aboriginal Affairs  Mr. Speaker, the government takes our international commitments seriously and we are not prepared to sign on to this non-binding document because it is inconsistent with our Constitution, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the National Defence Act, Supreme Court rulings, policies under which we negotiate treaties, and does not account for third party interests.

Aboriginal Affairs  Mr. Speaker, advocates like that say that the declaration is straightforward and unambiguous. It is clearly not. Four nations initially voted against it, 11 more refused to support it, and 35 states were absent from the vote. I might add that the Liberal administration before ours refused to sign the document as well.

Aboriginal Affairs  Mr. Speaker, those are irrational allegations. We have put $1.6 billion into infrastructure spending for first nations. We are putting that money into necessary things like water and waste water. We are ensuring that every community has safe drinking water. Health and safety is our first and main concern.

Aboriginal Affairs  Mr. Speaker, we inherited, in the transition from the last administration, 180 high-risk water systems. That number is now less than 60, and we have an action plan to reduce that number. Once again we are getting the job done. The NDP and the opposition parties are erecting blockades.

Aboriginal Affairs  Mr. Speaker, I am very surprised that the member opposite would ask that inflammatory question. We had a committee meeting this morning. We talked about this very subject. It is very clear in the response from the department that the priorities are set by the department. It does not consider political situations.

Aboriginal Affairs  Mr. Speaker, we understand that the member opposite has an interpretation that is far different from reality. We also understand the concerns of aboriginal children. We have expanded school construction and other spending because we do understand. Since 2000, the department has invested over $5 million in Attawapiskat for expansion of the high school and temporary classrooms, and approximately $1 million a year for operations and upkeep of the schools.