“This bill only exists because Indigenous nations pushed for it after the government failed to follow through on treaties. The government drags its feet on promises to First Nations. I want to know if the member agrees that quickly signing and honoring treaties is good for the economy and should be a top priority.”

“Mr. Speaker, the member gave the government credit for actually bringing forward this legislation, well, not really credit, but he attributed it to them. I would not go that far. This legislation is a result of pressure from modern-day treaty nations that have called for this, because of the government’s failure to implement treaties and dragging its feet. That is what this is about, and it includes the Maa-nulth first nations in my riding. I also think about nations in my riding that have signed agreements with the government that are not modern-day treaties, like Tla-o-qui-aht. The government is dragging its feet on promises it has made. We hear the government constantly talking about nation-building. Does my colleague agree that nation-building is signing modern-day treaties, signing agreements with indigenous peoples, and that fast-tracking that should be a priority for the government? That is good for the economy. That is good for nation-building.”