Aboriginal Affairs  Mr. Speaker, today's Supreme Court decision once again highlights the government's refusal to take leadership in matters of importance to our country. For decades now, the Canadian government has dragged its feet on settling first nations treaties that would provide clarity on th

Natural Resources  Mr. Speaker, let me remind the minister of the report's findings: 75% of British Columbians said no and 100% of first nations said no. That answer is absolutely pathetic. Thousands of people are contacting me saying they do not want oil and gas drilling polluting B.C. because th

Natural Resources  Mr. Speaker, truly an NDP move, but at the pace of a Liberal. Today Newfoundland is suffering from its worst oil spill in history. Later this week provincial ministers from B.C. will be in Ottawa lobbying the Minister of Natural Resources to lift the moratorium in the Hecate Str

Petitions  Mr. Speaker, I would like to present a petition today on behalf of the residents of Queen Charlotte Islands, Haida Gwaii who are not currently considered sufficiently isolated to claim full northern residence deduction through the federal Department of Customs and Revenue. There

Department of Human Resources and Skills Development Act  Mr. Speaker, when I was back in my riding last week, I was able to take some parts of this bill to working families to find out what they thought about the government's generosity. I have a couple of questions for the member which strike me as a bit strange. The move toward inve

Department of Canadian Heritage Act  Mr. Speaker, I feel the passion in the words and emotion that the parliamentary secretary brings to this important issue. I have a number of questions that I would like to put to him. I am curious in terms of the real dollars that have been set aside over the coming years for th

Department of Canadian Heritage Act  Mr. Speaker, I have heard of this particular incident to which the opposition member has spoken and it is of a grave nature. I want to go back to the historical properties for a moment and the $40 million that has been allocated. I wonder if the hon. member might make mention of

Department of Canadian Heritage Act  Mr. Speaker, I will not be taking any honeymoon advice from him. My fiancé would not have any of it. To get back to the bill with respect to the parks, while it is perhaps a housekeeping bill and a technical bill, there were some problems we had to fix along the way. I am also c

Department of Canadian Heritage Act  Mr. Speaker, it is a great privilege for me to rise today in the House to speak to Bill C-7. While it has been referred to in a number of different ways by various members in the House as a technical move and a piece of housekeeping, it also affords us the opportunity to refocus

Department of Canadian Heritage Act  For free. Indeed, yes. He does not have to actually carry that bill, unlike many Canadians who are looking to do the right thing. I spoke earlier to the notion that any further shifts in responsibility for parks must come back to the House. Initially, this met with some derision

Department of Canadian Heritage Act  You are welcome. I am now hearing thanks, Mr. Speaker. That is quite encouraging. We must instruct those people who assist government, people in the Privy Council and in the Prime Minister's Office, that they in fact may not be steering the ship entirely. They may have to talk

Department of Canadian Heritage Act  Mr. Speaker, the only comment I would make with respect to the increasing of the parks within Canada is a point that was raised earlier. If we do not resource these things properly, then it will be done poorly. Simply hitting a target may be fine and good, but we have heard stori

Department of Canadian Heritage Act  Mr. Speaker, I do not have much of a reply other than to note the obvious pride which the hon. member has for the natural areas around his riding, and the importance of that place to his constituents. The importance of creating sustainable, new and well resourced protected areas

Department of Canadian Heritage Act  Mr. Speaker, the hon. member has asked an excellent question. B.C. was out in front. The New Democratic Party when in government was very strong in pushing forward strong, resolute forums. One of the ways this worked was that there was proper consultation on the land base. Again

Softwood Lumber  Mr. Speaker, next week Canada's Prime Minister has a chance to do right by Canadians. Small communities in my riding have been desperately waiting for years now for the U.S. to lift its illegal tariff on softwood lumber. The courts have ruled, and industry knows it is coming. Wh