self-government

Mr. Speaker, I listened to my colleague's remarks with great interest because we are all very concerned about what exactly these self-government treaties involve.

Mr. Speaker, I listened to my colleague's remarks with great interest because we are all very concerned about what exactly these self-government treaties involve.

While there appears to be nothing that will be a constitutional problem in the treaties we are talking about, nevertheless it would be a reassurance for all Canadians to hear the interpretation of the term self-government from expert witnesses from the Department of Justice.

While there appears to be nothing that will be a constitutional problem in the treaties we are talking about, nevertheless it would be a reassurance for all Canadians to hear the interpretation of the term self-government from expert witnesses from the Department of Justice.

If we are not prepared to give them the same benefits we have had and have nourished for well over 500 years, I am afraid the term self-government is somewhat meaningless.

If we are not prepared to give them the same benefits we have had and have nourished for well over 500 years, I am afraid the term self-government is somewhat meaningless.

Mr. Speaker, I share with my colleague a concern about the terminology with respect to self-government and sovereignty.

Mr. Speaker, I share with my colleague a concern about the terminology with respect to self-government and sovereignty.

If self-government means a form of municipal government such as my town's government or the governments of the smaller cities in my constituency that are subject to provincial and federal legislation, I am all for it.

If self-government means a form of municipal government such as my town's government or the governments of the smaller cities in my constituency that are subject to provincial and federal legislation, I am all for it.

Mr. Speaker, the member mentioned that all of his constituents felt it would be acceptable for self-government to be defined in terms of a municipal government being responsible to the provincial government.

Mr. Speaker, the member mentioned that all of his constituents felt it would be acceptable for self-government to be defined in terms of a municipal government being responsible to the provincial government.

My understanding is that virtually every first nation in Canada desires to move toward self-government so they will not have to respond totally in the context of a provincial government.

My understanding is that virtually every first nation in Canada desires to move toward self-government so they will not have to respond totally in the context of a provincial government.

I am curious to know whether the member has any first nations people in his riding and if he can truly attest to the fact that all his constituents would like to see self-government as a municipal government doing what the provincial government says it should do.

I am curious to know whether the member has any first nations people in his riding and if he can truly attest to the fact that all his constituents would like to see self-government as a municipal government doing what the provincial government says it should do.

The royal commission report should have stated unequivocally that accountability of elected representatives on our first nations lands had to be in place as self-government moved along.

The royal commission report should have stated unequivocally that accountability of elected representatives on our first nations lands had to be in place as self-government moved along.

Opposition to self-government within the native community is a fact of life.

Opposition to self-government within the native community is a fact of life.

This opposition to self-government includes women's rights.

This opposition to self-government includes women's rights.

The Liberal government and the aboriginal leaders who prepared these documents could have eliminated this opposition to self-government by simply stating and ensuring through action that Canadian aboriginals have all the democratic rights enjoyed by the non-native Canadian population.

The Liberal government and the aboriginal leaders who prepared these documents could have eliminated this opposition to self-government by simply stating and ensuring through action that Canadian aboriginals have all the democratic rights enjoyed by the non-native Canadian population.

Yet in purpose and function it amounts to the creation of a partial yet substantial form of self-government for the first nations that are signatories to this framework agreement.

Yet in purpose and function it amounts to the creation of a partial yet substantial form of self-government for the first nations that are signatories to this framework agreement.

The framework agreement grants these powers of self-government in two primary ways.

The framework agreement grants these powers of self-government in two primary ways.

They seem to have the greatest concern over this whole issue of self-government and the laws being passed and the agreements being made.

They seem to have the greatest concern over this whole issue of self-government and the laws being passed and the agreements being made.

On the one hand members of the Reform Party purport to support aboriginal self-government and management of their lands and yet it seems that every single member has risen to nitpick this bill apart, tear it apart and say that because it is not a perfect situation this will go down in flames.

On the one hand members of the Reform Party purport to support aboriginal self-government and management of their lands and yet it seems that every single member has risen to nitpick this bill apart, tear it apart and say that because it is not a perfect situation this will go down in flames.

I find it very difficult to understand the Reform Party's position that while it says it supports self-government there is really nothing in this bill it finds worthy of support.

I find it very difficult to understand the Reform Party's position that while it says it supports self-government there is really nothing in this bill it finds worthy of support.

The term self-government could be applied to the provincial government in Manitoba in that it has rights and responsibilities.

The term self-government could be applied to the provincial government in Manitoba in that it has rights and responsibilities.

In this process of self-government for aboriginals we have to do two things.

In this process of self-government for aboriginals we have to do two things.

They do not feel that self-government is going to protect them.

They do not feel that self-government is going to protect them.

There are some clauses that talk about accountability but there is no clause that I can find that would require the management groups or whoever administers this act on the reserves or on the self-government entities provide for open debate.

There are some clauses that talk about accountability but there is no clause that I can find that would require the management groups or whoever administers this act on the reserves or on the self-government entities provide for open debate.

There has been a trend over the years to create legislation that does not firmly provide for committees and councils in self-government regimes to have their debates in an open forum.

There has been a trend over the years to create legislation that does not firmly provide for committees and councils in self-government regimes to have their debates in an open forum.

The legislation creates-and it is the theme of the government-aboriginal self-government that is more based on the municipal model.

The legislation creates-and it is the theme of the government-aboriginal self-government that is more based on the municipal model.

That is precisely what the government is trying to achieve by its aboriginal self-government programs.

That is precisely what the government is trying to achieve by its aboriginal self-government programs.

He said it was insanity to move to more self-government before the proper fiscal accountability is in place.

He said it was insanity to move to more self-government before the proper fiscal accountability is in place.