Sahtu Dene And Metis Land Claim Settlement Act  Mr. Speaker, I have one more question. There was some discussion about the history of these kinds of negotiations in the member's statement. I just wondered whether the member was familiar with the comprehensive western Arctic Dene-Metis agreement. It was signed in 1990 and included a larger settlement area, but it included this specific area within it.

Sahtu Dene And Metis Land Claim Settlement Act  Mr. Speaker, my first question relates to the B.C. Treaty Commission which was referred to as an impartial body. Three groups are involved in those negotiations, represented by the federal and provincial governments and the First Nations. My first question is why are third party interests and most especially the municipality or local governments that are elected and influenced by local negotiations not represented in that so-called impartial treaty commission?

Sahtu Dene And Metis Land Claim Settlement Act  The agreement provides for a most elaborate process of negotiations in the future to conclude agreements on Sahtu Dene and Metis self-government. This framework agreement is set out in appendix B of the agreement. It is important to note this framework agreement contemplates negotiations on the transfer of legislative-making powers to the Sahtu Dene and Metis over a long list of 18 subject matters.

Sahtu Dene And Metis Land Claim Settlement Act  Of course, these are important centres of social and economic activity in that region of the Mackenzie Valley and those people have communities within those socio-economic centres and they are all included in the agreement. Speaking of local associations represented, there are also the Metis Nation of the Northwest Territories, local 60 in Fort Norman, local 59 and local 54; these are Metis groups that worked on this agreement and signed it. The agreement will affect some 1,755 Metis and Dene.

Métis Society  Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Justice. What is the minister doing about the criminal activity with respect to the tampering of minutes of the Métis Society of Saskatchewan?

Métis Society  I have a supplementary question, Mr. Speaker. Is the minister stonewalling because of the involvement or association of Marc LeClair, chief administrative officer of the Métis National Council, adviser to the Métis Society of Saskatchewan, a participant in the drafting of the Liberal red book and a member of the extraordinary Liberal aboriginal caucus?

Indian Affairs  Mr. Speaker, my supplementary is for the Minister of Canadian Heritage. Core funding for the Métis Society of Saskatchewan is provided by the minister's department. Can he assure the House that no fiscal 1994-95 funds will be released to the society until the investigation is completed and the financial mismanagement addressed?

Indian Affairs  Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Justice. The Deloitte and Touche draft audit of the Métis Society of Saskatchewan identified that minutes of the society's meetings were tampered with. Métis society members have been denied access to this draft audit. Can the minister tell the House how he plans to deal with these irregularities and enforce the law?

Métis Society Of Saskatchewan  Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. Could the minister confirm that the Deloitte & Touche draft audit of the Métis Society of Saskatchewan commissioned by the federal government and the Government of Saskatchewan has revealed fraud and fabrication of documents, a $1 million operating deficit by the society and violation of the funding agreement between the federal government and the society?

Métis Society Of Saskatchewan  Mr. Speaker, my supplementary question is for the Prime Minister. Rank and file Métis are concerned about the lack of accountability of funding arrangements by the department of Indian affairs and how it may affect Métis credibility and future funding. Could the Prime Minister assure the House that all future funding arrangements with aboriginal groups will include publicly disclosed annual audits?

Greenpeace Canada  Mr. Speaker, if I understood the minister's statement there is a difference between the international Greenpeace organization and Greenpeace Canada. If I understood the context, is it allowable to transfer funds from the one organization to the other?

Greenpeace Canada  Mr. Speaker, I misunderstood the intent. The answer is that I do not wish to make a statement at this time.

Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Suspension Act  Mr. Speaker, there will be objections whenever boundaries are redrawn. I appreciate that. British Columbians have had knowledge of these changes for nine days. Discussions were going on in this parliamentary atmosphere on the Hill wanting to kill this process before British Columbians were even made aware of what the provincial boundary redistribution was.

Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Suspension Act  Mr. Speaker, the collective memory on the Charlottetown accord in British Columbia is still very much there. The province voted two-thirds against the provisions of the Charlottetown accord. The collective memory on the promise and guarantees concerning redistribution is very much in the forefront.

Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Suspension Act  Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to rise today to speak to and to oppose the provisions of the legislation before us in Bill C-18. One has to ask what precipitated the government's decision to attempt to suspend the legitimate work of the federal electoral boundaries commission.