Strengthening Military Justice in the Defence of Canada Act  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for his excellent speech on a very important issue. It does not receive much attention, because we are discussing the military system, to which average Canadians do not have access, and about which they know very little. This bill concerns the concept of justice.

Abortion  Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the succinct answer. Unfortunately, as I noted, key government members took a different position, the opposing position, to reopen the abortion debate. Despite the fact that the Prime Minister has repeated that line, we have yet another private member's motion, Motion No. 408, under a different window, trying to reopen the abortion debate.

Abortion  Mr. Speaker, there is tremendous irony in having this debate scheduled today, December 6, the National Day of Remembrance and Action to End Violence Against Women. We in the NDP made it clear today in the House that we demand action from the government to end violence against women and also, very importantly, that it work toward achieving equality for women in Canada.

Status of Women  Mr. Speaker, Canadians will pause for a moment today to think of the 14 women who were killed simply because they were women. We need to pay greater attention to issues related to gender equality, such as the closure of 12 Status of Women Canada offices and the shutting down of dozens of women's organizations across the country, the attacks on pay equity, the cancellation of child care funding and many other measures.

Aboriginal Affairs  Mr. Speaker, the government has done nothing but let Canadian women down every step of the way. Violence remains a reality for far too many women in Canada. Every Canadian deserves to be safe. Unfortunately for so many Canadian women, that is not the case. Tragically, more than 600 aboriginal women are missing and murdered in our country.

First Nations Financial Transparency Act  Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for raising a critical point on consultation. We are seeing a complete lack of appropriate consultation on one piece of legislation after the other. That speaks to the Conservative government's lack of desire to properly consult with first nations people, which is really a step backward.

First Nations Financial Transparency Act  Mr. Speaker, I would encourage members to read Hansard to get at what I actually referred to. The member across knows well, being from the same hometown that I am, about the kinds of ads that were placed by the Conservative Party in my campaign, and the kind of messaging, both overt and covert, that was used to turn people against aboriginal communities and the needs that they have.

First Nations Financial Transparency Act  Mr. Speaker, I am experiencing a strong sense of déjà vu as I rise in the House to speak to Bill C-27, which I also had an opportunity to speak to at second reading. However, I am rising one more time in the House, following my colleagues, to speak to what is imposed legislation and a failure to consult properly with first nations and to address the root challenges that they, as well as Canadians, would like to see addressed.

Safe Drinking Water for First Nations Act  Mr. Speaker, I would hope the member across would listen to my speeches perhaps a little more carefully. He might not want to, but certainly the statements he attributed to me are not the case. I would ask him perhaps to read Hansard just to clarify that point. It deserves clarification and it is something that I referenced in my speech.

Safe Drinking Water for First Nations Act  Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my colleague's raising such important points, in terms of Bill S-8, but more generally the extremely problematic trend the Conservatives have been applying when it comes to downloading critical services onto other jurisdictions without the kinds of supports necessary.

Safe Drinking Water for First Nations Act  Mr. Speaker, my colleague has raised a crucial point. The truth is that, more and more, the international community is watching how Canada treats its aboriginal people, Canada's first nations peoples. And it is truly shameful. Whether a question of access to clean drinking water, violence against aboriginal women or a lack of support for first nations education, the Canadian government's attitude represents a step backwards in terms of the promises made to first nations people.

Safe Drinking Water for First Nations Act  Mr. Speaker, I appreciate that my hon. colleague is well known for her work in environmental activism and being a leader in calling for states and obviously Canada to take a lead role in that area. The question of ensuring safe water systems has an environmental aspect to it. I am wondering if she could comment on how Bill S-8 fails to ensure environmental sustainability.

Safe Drinking Water for First Nations Act  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to stand in the House to speak to such an important piece of legislation that will have a direct impact on my constituency of Churchill in northern Manitoba. I have the honour of representing 33 first nations in northern Manitoba. Many of these first nations have tremendous opportunity.

Safe Drinking Water for First Nations Act  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for raising key points here in the House as to why we oppose Bill S-8. I wonder if she could elaborate on a very disturbing trend we are seeing from the government with regard to first nation legislation and the lack of consultation, not just in the context of Bill S-8 but also when it comes to matrimonial property rights and first nations' accountability.

Status of Women  Mr. Speaker, we want to know when. These women have been waiting for 30 years. We are talking about the longest pay equity suit in Canadian history. The Supreme Court ruled that those women had been discriminated against and that they deserved equal pay for their work of equal value.