Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to state my dismay with this whole bureaucratic nightmare that we are in. When it comes to aboriginal people, it seems like the constitutional process is being kicked around from all sides and aboriginal issues, in regards to one of the items that we put forth in regards to this government, is the settlement of aboriginal claims and dealing with aboriginal issues, self-government, yet we agreed to 24 principles when we got into this House. It seems like every time an aboriginal organization wants to make an effort do something, it seems like it gets ripped apart, kicked around and put down by this government and people in this House. I think we have to stand up for what we state as our principles or change our mind every second day. In regards to the $1 million that they are putting forth, I would like to ask the Minister exactly how many aboriginal people do you have within the Aboriginal Affairs portfolio. How many positions are presently not filled, yet we are trying to settle the treaty entitlement process with Treaty 8, we are trying to settle the Dogrib claims process, we are trying to settle the self-government process and also we are dealing with a pretty intense aboriginal community out there, who are seeing their rights deteriorated by these budget cuts that are coming down in this government. We support those initiatives but when it comes to an aboriginal organization making an attempt to step forth or deal with their issues, I think, sooner or later the aboriginal community is going to step forth and make clear where they stand because with the amount of cuts we are taking, it is the aboriginal people in the smaller communities who are feeling those cuts and also the bands are having to carry those extra costs, yet this government spends a lot of money from the federal government on aboriginal programs and services. Yet that is where the majority of those cuts are being taken. My question to the Minister is, how many aboriginal people does he have within his portfolio? Also how many positions are presently unoccupied? Yet we are dealing with a whole slate of aboriginal issues.
David Krutko on Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
In the Legislative Assembly on February 10th, 1997. See this statement in context.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 9th, 1997
Page 511
See context to find out what was said next.