Indian Affairs  Mr. Speaker, between May 4, 1995 and October 3, 1995 the member for Nanaimo-Cowichan and I highlighted in question period allegations of sexual abuse and misappropriation of band funds of the Lac Barriere band. On January 23, 1996 the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development recognized an interim band council as the legitimate authority at Lac Barriere.

Indian Affairs  Mr. Speaker, the date of the three-party signing of the Nisga'a agreement now planned for March 22 was leaked while the province of B.C. was in the early stages of so-called public hearings. Obviously the minister of Indian affairs knew of the date and yet said nothing, allowing the charade to carry on in British Columbia.

Indian Affairs  Mr. Speaker, the minister is continuing to perpetuate a myth that is not true in this agreement. This leads to constitutional entrenchment of tax exemption. This is unfair. It is that simple. Disguising it under the terms of a land deal makes it no less unjust. Other businesses in the area will not be able to compete with tax exempt businesses run by the Nisga'a central government.

Indian Affairs  Mr. Speaker, the department of Indian affairs has been repeatedly criticized for its lack of accountability. To this department and the minister, the Canadian taxpayer is nothing more than an afterthought. The Nisga'a deal is another example of the taxpayer being left out of the equation.

Navigable Waters Protection Act  moved for leave to introduce Bill C-529, An Act to amend the Navigable Waters Protection Act (Slave River). Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table my bill, an act to amend the Navigable Waters Protection Act for Slave River. I wish to thank my colleague, the member for Western Arctic, for seconding this bill, which is of great significance to his constituents.

Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation Band  Let us remember that there was no agreement between the province and Canada on if, how and when the Indian Act would apply to the Mi'kmaq of Newfoundland. In the absence of that agreement, the Indian Act was not applied. It was only in 1989 that the Federation of Newfoundland Indians, established to advocate for Mi'kmaq interests, brought forward its lawsuit against the federal government, which we have heard about here.

Government Operations committee  Okay. Well, I tried. I guess I'm puzzled as to why that information can't be forthcoming. In the information you have kindly provided to us, a summary of what's provided in supplementary estimates (B)—which is really helpful—there's mention of $162 million combined between Health Canada...and I notice it still says “Indian Affairs”, but I presume you mean Aboriginal Affairs, or is it still legally called Indian Affairs?

First Nations  Mr. Speaker, it is also my pleasure to rise and speak to Motion No. 386 by the member for Toronto Centre. Contrary to the submission by the previous member, I have quite a different understanding of what the member for Toronto Centre is proposing. Regardless of the details therein, he is pretty straightforward.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  The simple answer is that our nation should be; however, the answer to this question is more complicated, given the evolving relationship in Canada between first nations and the crown under the current Indian Act reality. On Monday, this committee heard from the minister of AANDC, and my MP, Minister John Duncan, who was asked if he thought it was appropriate for the minister to be telling first nations how to be accountable to their own citizens.

Status of Women committee  If the legislation is out of subsection 91(24), which it is, then it's subject to the Minister of Indian Affairs—sorry, no one back home knows the new name. We, as Indian Act chiefs and councils, will administer the law we develop in accordance with the rules set out in this legislation, and we will administer that law under the Minister of Indian Affairs and become first nations municipalities.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I'm here to tell you that racism still exists today. It exists in this room. It exists in the Department of Indian Affairs. It exists in the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. It exists where I live in Chilliwack. That same attitude is alive and well. People may frown at the terms used in this article published in 1938, but the colonial thinking has not changed.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I suspect these are part and parcel of the important work you did, as you said, with Minister Strahl when he was the minister responsible for Indian Affairs. That was the title at that time, and of course, there was Minister Duncan. I'm going to stop there and just get you to expound on those two organizations or funds. Talk a little bit about the substantive dimensions of economic development and, notably, how you have done very well in labour force participation in financial institutions.

Committees of the House  Mr. Speaker, there have been consultations, and I believe if you seek it you will find unanimous consent for the following motions regarding two standing committees of this place. I move: That, notwithstanding any Standing Order or usual practice of the House, in relation to the membership of the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, the Order of the House adopted on Tuesday, December 3, 2013, shall only take effect on February 24, 2014.

Indian Affairs  Mr. Speaker, just to clarify, the Reform Party does recognize treaty rights as solemn and binding obligations on the part of government. The minister of Indian affairs has negotiated a draft co-management agreement for three million acres with the Montreal Lake Band near Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, without the participation of the province and without consulting rural municipalities.

Committees of the House  Mr. Speaker, I move: That in relation to its study on the Northwest Territories Devolution Act, seven members of the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development be authorized to travel to Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, in the Winter of 2014, that the necessary staff accompany the Committee and that the Committee be authorized to televise its hearings.