Honourable senators, I want to take the opportunity to talk about the reason why I abstained from the last vote. I cannot speak for other ISG senators who abstained. I also cannot speak for ISG senators who voted for or against this amendment. But I will, I think, reflect broadly some views that were expressed by ISG senators at a meeting we had just before this vote. I’ve been asked, I think it’s fair to say, to express some of those views to the chamber.

Let me first thank and congratulate Senator Mary Jane McCallum for her encourage, her determination to stand up for Indigenous rights and for moving this very important amendment.

I also want to recognize the injustice that you felt because your amendments were not part of a package that was negotiated as part of the totality of amendments that the Energy Committee eventually passed and which have now come to this chamber. Your tenacity in pursuing those amendments in committee on your own and here again in this chamber is a testament to your commitment to these issues.

Many of us who thought about how to vote on this issue were unequivocal on one point, which is that we support the greater consultation, engagement and involvement of First Nations in impact assessments and, indeed, in all the big decisions that involve Canada, Canadian society, business and politics. All of us want to see a society in which First Nations’ rights are treated with the respect they are due.

In the debate we had in ISG about whether to adopt this amendment, there were, of course, different views, particularly on the impact that passing this amendment would have, not only on Bill C-69, but also on what many of us thought was the more important bill before us, Bill C-262. I simply want to put on the record here that I think there is, if not unanimity, a strong body of opinion within the ISG that whatever happened tonight does not in any way detract from the importance of Bill C-262.

I want to underscore the need for this chamber — the committee, first of all, to finish its work. We know the committee has been very diligent in doing its investigations and hearings. We want that bill to come back to the chamber as soon as possible. I want to strongly encourage all of us to not apply dilatory tactics to withhold a final vote on that bill, because we all have a feeling that while this amendment may not have been right for Bill C-69, it is the right thing to do for the Senate as a whole.

Order, please. Unless somebody is raising a point of order, Senator Woo has the floor.

Your Honour, I am raising a point of order. I’m sure at the end, you will do the right thing and say that it doesn’t quite meet the threshold, but I will at least raise it.

Senator Woo got up and told us that he wanted to explain why he abstained on a vote. He is now going into a debate on a bill that is not before the chamber. I would suggest that Senator Woo tell us why he abstained and leave it at that. He has the right to abstain, and he has the right, Your Honour, to tell us why he abstained. He has gone well beyond that, and he is now campaigning on a bill that is not yet before the chamber. Your Honour, I think that is a point of order.

Order, please. Honourable senators will know that when a senator abstains on any vote, they sometimes give an explanation as to why the abstention took place. Senator Plett is making a good point, though, Senator Woo, in that you are now straying into a debate on the amendment.

Thank you, Your Honour, for the clarification. I thank Senator Plett for correcting me for straying into what he feels is secondary material.

I chose to abstain on this amendment because I feel the proper order of legislation in dealing with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People is, first and foremost, to deal with Bill C-262 and not to skip over that step and onto this amendment. For that reason, I encourage all of us to get quickly to Bill C-262 and to pass it through the Senate.

Thank you. I’d like to explain my abstention.

Honourable senators, before you start, I realize that we sometimes acknowledge senators who stand to explain an abstention, but abstentions generally speak for themselves. Unless you have a pressing need to explain your abstention, please, it will stand for itself.

I would like to explain my reason for abstaining, which has not been stated so far. My reason for abstaining is this: I plan to abstain on third reading in every respect of Bill C-69.

Let me put it this way: There was considerable discussion and negotiation at the committee. It brought back a Senate package of amendments. We in Alberta have stressed how important it is for that package to be accepted without any changes. I would support that.

I’m abstaining with no prejudice against any other amendments that are brought forward. As an Albertan, I refuse to vote in favour of anything, including third reading if we achieve that Senate package of amendments, until the government has shown its good faith by bringing back the message that it has accepted the Senate amendments.

As an Albertan, I will not be on record for any other part of third reading or amendments at this stage. Thank you very much.