Petitions  Mr. Speaker, I also have five separate petitions, one signed by 130 constituents, another by 61, the third by 54, the fourth by 91 and the last by 283 requesting that government not enact any further firearms control for responsible gun owners, shooting clubs and firearms collectors and that legislation be changed to penalize those who use firearms in any crime.

Petitions  Mr. Speaker, the eighth petition is signed by 163 of my constituents requesting Parliament to review the Young Offenders Act in an open and accountable process which addresses the following principles: deterrents to the offender; accountability of the offender; and rights of the victim.

Petitions  The 11th petition is signed by 150 of my constituents. They request that Parliament not pass Bill C-41 with section 718.2 as presently written and in any event not to include the undefined phrase of sexual orientation, as the behaviour that people engage in does not warrant special consideration in Canadian law.

Petitions  The last petition is signed by 27 of my constituents. They pray that Parliament ensure that the present provisions of the Criminal Code of Canada prohibiting assisted suicide be vigorously enforced and that Parliament make no changes in the law which would sanction or allow the aiding or abetting of suicide or active or passive euthanasia.

Petitions  Mr. Speaker, the ninth petition is signed by over 130 people, most of whom live in my constituency. They request that Parliament amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act and the Criminal Code to allow dangerous offender applications to be made just prior to the expiration of the offender's sentence.

Privilege  Yes, Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to do that. To further clarify the situation for the member for Glengarry-Prescott-Russell, I did not accuse the minister of conflict of interest. If he reads the question he will see that I did not do that. I did not say that anyone was co-opted by a constituent.

Privilege  Yes, Mr. Speaker. I have no problem withdrawing that word and using the word stubborn if that would resolve the issue.

Privilege  Mr. Speaker, I did not hear all of the minister's comments, but what I am saying is that there is a conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict of interest. I said that it was done knowingly or unknowingly. I am asking for the minister's clarification. I would like to pursue this matter.

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.

Indian Affairs  Mr. Speaker, the member for Prince Albert was adopted by binding aboriginal ceremony into the Bird family of the Montreal Lake Band in a powwow about two years ago. Roy Bird, the chief of the band, is an important player in this family. The member for Prince Albert has been co-opted by the minister and is defending these negotiations with his adopted family.

Members Of Parliament Retiring Allowances Act  Mr. Speaker, this will serve to keep the ratio of government to member contribution very high. The member for Glengarry-Prescott-Russell talked yesterday of openness, honesty and sincerity. There is not a scintilla of veracity in what the government is telling Canadians about the pension plan.

Members Of Parliament Retiring Allowances Act  Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to participate in the debate on the issue of MPs pensions. It is certainly one issue that raises the blood pressure of the majority of Canadians and one time slot on the parliamentary channel that receives attention. I dare say there is not a single MP who has not been dogged by constituents on the issue.

Aboriginal Affairs  Mr. Speaker, the minister of Indian affairs raised the expectations of aboriginal people to the point where his departmental officials are now asking him "to bring high expectations of the aboriginal community to manageable levels". What will the minister do in his statements and in his processes to reduce expectations upon which he cannot possibly deliver?

Aboriginal Affairs  Mr. Speaker, in B.C. the current treaty process has created expectations that are forecast to cost $8 billion to $20 billion. There is no way that governments can deliver on this. The public is clamouring for a new approach. What will the minister do to create an affordable process and reduce aboriginal expectations so that B.C. can support modern treaties?

Lightstations  Mr. Speaker, the coast guard lightstation services project went to 28 B.C. locations and cost $202,000. Its report is now more than one month old and will be released today. I hope the current minister responsible has read it and will conclude what the B.C. public has concluded.