The scrums: Métis lands, balanced budgets

Three highlights from this afternoon’s post-Question Period scrums:

1. NDP MP Paul Dewar on the Supreme Court’s ruling on Métis lands: You know, instead of the government constantly going to the Court to delay, what has to happen is that they sit down with the Métis and hammer out some form of agreement. The government’s just continuing to drag their feet on it. This isn’t just with the Métis question, of course. This is also treaties, the relationship with First Nations, with Aboriginal and Inuit to some degree, as well.

2. Conservative MP Greg Rickford on the Métis ruling: We feel very confident that we’re going to continue to work hard to improve the lives of Métis people across Canada. We have a strong presence in our caucus of Métis members and so I think what today’s decision signals is that, in the absence of a specified remedy in the decision, to ensure that the legislature continues to work on improving the lives of and policy related to Métis populations across Canada. 

3. Rankin on the importance of a balanced budget by 2016: It’s not prudent if there are people who are suffering as a consequence of their decisions. In general, everybody is in support of prudent measures to be taken, and a balanced budget is certainly something we all should strive for. But at what cost?