Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I rise to support the people in Nunavut, and commend them for the hard work they are doing in regards to their inventions for a government for the east in 1999. But I would also like to state,
in regards to the west, that when it comes to the whole question of constitutional development and division, that the people in the west have to put their differences aside and work towards a process that we can all live with, and the adequate resources have to be there.
Mr. Speaker, the other process that I would like to touch on is the whole question about self-government in regards to the process that aboriginal people and groups are presently under. Mr. Speaker, there have been comments made in this House about the whole question about a million dollars which is going to be spent for constitutional development and self-government. I would like the people to be aware that there are land claims agreements which have been signed with this government and the federal government which clearly states an obligation to settle the whole question about constitutional development and self-government.
Also, I would like to state that the adequate funding for aboriginal organizations in regards to core funding for funding constitutional for self-government talks has not been adequate to date. Yet, we bicker amongst ourselves in this House when it comes to that issue. I would like to state that myself, I do support aboriginal initiatives when it comes to claim settlements, self government talks, and the constitutional process.
But what kind of a message are we sending to the people in the west when it comes to the whole question about funding a process which will either mean to resolve outstanding issues the question about constitutional development for the west.
In closing, Mr. Speaker, I hope that we can put aside our differences and assure the aboriginal community and the people of the north that we will work to resolve these issues and not bicker about them in the House. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.