Discussion · Government Orders
Billy Morin Conservative
“I oppose this bill. Existing treaty commissioners do nothing to help the government keep its promises, which has led to record numbers of land claims and lawsuits. This new office will not be any different.”
“Madam Speaker, today’s discussion primarily revolves around modern treaties, but I actually come from the historic treaties. It is Treaty 6’s 150th anniversary this year. In fact, in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, they have treaty commissioners. I understand there was some minimal engagement with the design of those offices, but today those offices do nothing themselves to serve the treaty obligations in terms of meaningful impact. We are seeing historic record numbers of land claims, historic record numbers of lawsuits against the government, because of a lack of actual substance in these commissioners’ offices. I do not see anything different with this one, despite a lot of the work that has gone into it.”
Official Hansard
Madam Speaker, today’s discussion primarily revolves around modern treaties, but I actually come from the historic treaties. It is Treaty 6’s 150th anniversary this year. In fact, in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, they have treaty commissioners. I understand there was some minimal engagement with the design of those offices, but today those offices do nothing themselves to serve the treaty obligations in terms of meaningful impact. We are seeing historic record numbers of land claims, historic record numbers of lawsuits against the government, because of a lack of actual substance in these commissioners’ offices. I do not see anything different with this one, despite a lot of the work that has gone into it.