Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask my honourable colleagues' indulgence to go back to Members' statements, if I may.

Agreed.

The Member for Keewatin Central is seeking unanimous consent to return to item 3, Members' statements.

Agreed.

Do we have any nays? You have unanimous consent, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and thank you, Members. Mr. Speaker, I enjoyed Mr. Picco's story earlier today about I.C. Clearly and Fiscally Cat. Mr. Speaker, while I have a tremendous amount of respect for Mr. Picco's oratory skills and sense of history, on occasion he has been known to suffer from factual dyslexia, an ailment that causes him to mix up most of the simple facts.

You see, Mr. Speaker, I have also had the same story and the facts are somewhat different than Mr. Picco led the House to believe. Mr. Speaker, there was a man named I.C. Clearly who came from a land, far from the east, with bad clothes, a thick accent and a passion to make a difference to his people. Mr. Speaker, Fiscally Cat was an experienced and wise sage who knew the intricacies of the realm. Fiscally Cat saw, in I.C. Clearly, the potential to do great things and tried to do all he could to assist him. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, often the best intentions go astray.

Fiscally Cat counselled I.C. Clearly with his thick accent and clothing but, finally, despite his substantial efforts, was forced to concede that bad taste was not curable. In fact, Mr. Speaker, the situation only worsened when I.C. Clearly began to believe his own rhetoric. I.C. Clearly began to listen to the radio to hear his voice. He crafted his speeches in search of the elusive soundbite. I.C. Clearly began to believe that he, and he alone, was capable of bringing sense to the chaos. In his own mind, Mr. Speaker, I.C. Clearly was a martyr who had achieved myth-like status.

Mr. Speaker, to all others, throughout the land, it became clear that his ego had overtaken his sense of reason. Mr. Speaker, the moral of the story is that Fiscally Cat vowed solutions over soundbites. On the other hand, to I.C. Clearly, the solution is secondary to the soundbite. I know this story well, Mr. Speaker, I see clearly.

-- Applause

Item 14, notices of motion. Item 15, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 16, motions. Item 17, first reading of bills. Item 18, second reading of bills. Mr. Todd.

Your motion is in order. To the principle of the bill. Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried. Bill 9 has had second reading and, accordingly, the bill stands referred to a committee. Second reading of bills. Item 19, consideration in committee of the whole of bills and other matters. Bill 8, Committee Report 2-13(4), Committee Report 3-13(4), Tabled Document 20-13(4), with Mrs. Groenewegen in the chair.

Agreed.

Yes.

Agreed.

Thank you, and good afternoon. I have with me Peter Bannon. He is director of policy for the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs. Thank you, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on just general comments. Sorry, Madam Chairperson. Madam Chairperson, one of the things that we did not touch on in general comments was the offshore claim situation with regards to Makivik. All islands, we know, in Hudson Bay and James Bay, and the Hudson Strait belong to the Northwest Territories Government. There was a concern from our committee when we reviewed this that were ongoing negotiations with the Quebec Government, the Government of Canada, and the Northwest Territories. However, after saying that, I wonder if the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs could just give us an overview on what is happening with the islands in James Bay which are overlapped by the Ontario Government and the Quebec Government as well as the Northwest Territories Government. Do we send people down there to check on the birds, the sanctuary? Are people using those islands? Are there permits and licenses involved? So some comments on that, and what is the fiscal side of things with Fiscally Cat. I see it just as clear as anyone else. So, I appreciate Fiscally Cat.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, there is a Makivik offshore land claims agreement that is underway. When the Northern Quebec and James Bay Agreement was negotiated, just for clarification here, Canada committed to deal with the northern Quebec Inuit offshore claim should the federal claims policy be revised to allow such claims. The federal government has accepted the Inuit of northern Quebec claim of a traditional use and occupancy of the offshore area between a Nunavut settlement area and the coast of Quebec known as the Nunavik Marine region. But, the Nunavik Marine region falls entirely within the Northwest Territories, and in the Nunavut Final Agreement, there is overlapping interest of the people of northern Quebec and the people of the NWT.

As a result, during the claims talk there is discussion about how this thing is going to be worked out. Yes, we have people who monitor this claims process. The arrangements have not been resolved yet. On the fiscal matter, it is difficult to get into details of that. The islands are in the N.W.T. area. During the Nunavut Final Agreement, there is agreement that the land the Makivik Inuit of northern Quebec traditionally use, that part of the country will continue to do so. So, there is an overlap agreement, that is attempted to be sorted out during this Makivik offshore lands claims agreement. Thank you.

Thank you.