Meegwetch, Speaker. Through you, a question to the Minister of Mines: Do you know that it’s colonial not to speak to all First Nations?

Back to the Minister of Mines: Do you know that it’s colonial to divide and conquer First Nations?

I’m pleased to be able to ask the member, who just gave an hour speech about mining—I appreciated that we all probably learned a couple of things about Sudbury, but about mining in a community: the good, the bad and the ugly; the historical and the potential here.

As he mentioned, this bill was tabled without free, prior and informed consent of First Nations. We have heard a lot about the fact that the Premier used the term “bulldozing” and is essentially bulldozing relationships. When we see a government that is playing First Nation off First Nation, I have concerns. Obviously, we on this side have concerns. Even today, we heard the government refer to “our First Nations” or “our Indigenous communities,” and they’re not ours. They don’t belong to us. Why is it so hard for this government to realize that they’re not stakeholders but that they are partners and should be properly consulted?

The member for Essex, earlier today, said that Wheatley, which is a town that blew up—he disagreed with that. The member said that Dudley George, who was killed by a sniper at Ipperwash over a confrontation—he disagreed with that. So yes, I also disagree with that. We need a government that prevents those kinds of confrontations and does it right, not like this government, which is rushing to develop the Ring of Fire in the most irresponsible way when it comes to both the environment and our Indigenous nations.

As we’ve said before, you can do the right thing now. You’ll always have time to fix it. Get it right the first time.

There’s no lesson that we would take from the Tories or the Liberals when it comes to building the Ring of Fire, because we are not going to be like an 800-pound gorilla tromping over First Nations’ rights.

Interjections.

You’ve had time to build roads. You’ve had time to provide those in First Nations communities with the prosperity that you’re dangling in front of them right now. So, you know what, your words ring hollow when we see the true circumstances of people in First Nations.