Mr. Pat Martin (Winnipeg Centre, NDP): Mr. Speaker, the final report on the Walkerton tragedy tells us that there are 83 potential Walkertons across Canada as we speak. I refer to the 83 first nations communities that are under boil water notices and have no access to clean, potable water. This situation would never be tolerated if these were white communities.

    Instead of spending millions of dollars to promote the first nations governance initiative that nobody wants, let us talk about the basic needs of thousands of first nations families.

    Will the minister of Indian affairs commit today that water quality in these communities will be the number one priority of his department?

    Hon. Robert Nault (Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I want to report to the member, who is pretty high on rhetoric and usually not too much on fact, that the reality is that in 1995, after a major study between Health Canada and the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, we undertook to make those changes because of the report's analysis of the issues related to first nations water quality. We have spent over $500 million above and beyond since 1995.

    To answer his question on whether it is a priority of the government, absolutely. Will we be doing something about it? We are doing something about it and we are going to continue to do as much as we possibly can.