Meegwetch to the members of my caucus who provided some words of debate. Meegwetch for supporting this motion.

I would like to say that the status quo that is construed as normal and acceptable in First Nations would not be acceptable anywhere else in Canada. But we have to ask ourselves, why do we have to debate this? Why is it that I have to stand up here and ask for support on an idea that should be just done?

I’ve said this many times in this room, in this place: We all have a right to health care close to home. There is nothing from the government from supporting this motion. It just needs political will. We cannot let people’s health continue to suffer.

Speaker, no one in this House can know what it’s like to live in a First Nation under a boil-water advisory, in overcrowded housing, and the impact it has on your health. No one in this House can know the toll that these determinants of health have on your mental health, on your physical health, on your spiritual health. Generations of our people have lived under these conditions.

I hope the government supports this motion, because without truth, there is no reconciliation. Enough talk; time for action. Meegwetch.