Human Resources committee  I don't have a figure for you, but one reality pertaining to the job market in our communities is that most of the jobs are seasonal in many of our communities. We have had a very promising experience in Quebec for many of our people who live on reserve. We have a pilot project involving one of the unions in Quebec that is aimed at providing some of our workers with opportunities outside of the community.

Human Resources committee  I would say that our biggest enemy is probably the demographics in our communities, which really play against us. In any normal society, it should be a plus to see so many young people, but in our situation and the situation of first nations across the country, if we're not able to raise the prospects for this segment of our population, then I think we're heading for disaster.

Human Resources committee  I think what we need to target is every situation that deserves attention. We always seem to be thinking from a government perspective. I certainly don't want to speak on behalf of the government, but the situation tells us that if you do this in education, then you have solved the issues of housing and health, whereas you should be concentrating on all those areas that are falling behind in our communities.

Human Resources committee  A little earlier, I was talking about the relationship between the federal government, mainly between the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, and our communities. The relationship is certainly inadequate. In my opinion, it is the same with Health Canada, which is the other department that has a clear, direct link with our communities.

Human Resources committee  One of the major recommendations of the Royal Commission is that the relationship between the state and our communities must not only be rethought, it must be redesigned.

Human Resources committee  A lot of it is, as you say, about the bucks. You mentioned the First Nations Human Resources Development Commission of Quebec. That exists because of agreements that we have been signing with the federal government since 1995. I think that we can recognize—just as I did earlier—that there is some effort in funding for housing.

Human Resources committee  Mr. Lessard, with all due respect to your committee, the people who should be listening are unfortunately not listening. I find that really regrettable, not to say frustrating and shocking. That is why I said at the outset that I am tired of making presentations before standing committees and parliamentary commissions.

Human Resources committee  Thank you. I can try to start answering that question, if I understood it correctly. The question has certainly been documented more than once over the last 15, 20, 25 or 30 years. It was also likely analyzed a number of times by the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. The problem lies mainly in the fact that the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development really has the final say over everything to do with every area of activity in our communities.

Human Resources committee  Thank you very much. [Witness speaks in his own language.] Madam Vice-Chair, ladies and gentlemen of the committee, good morning. We submitted a copy of the brief from the Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador. I will not read it, as I would prefer to talk more about the context in which we are making our representation to your committee this morning.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  My feeling is that all of the examples you referred to are clearly measurable, in my view. In terms of what is considered to be adequate housing, obviously, to me, it's what any Canadian knows as being the acceptable average. If it's three to five per house, when you compare it to the situation for aboriginal communities, which is almost double that, then there is obviously an equivalency that is not met.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Mr. Lemay, earlier, I gave you a few examples, and I believe our communities would be vulnerable in some of these situations. Those examples will not disappear once the act is enforced, and it may even provide additional ammunition to this type of group so that certain demands and claims possibly labelled as illegitimate may be advanced.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I agree with my colleague and support his comments. On the other hand, self-governance agreement negotiations also involve a major overhaul of the financial relationship between the Government of Canada and the communities concerned. Of course, these considerations were taken into account, which is not necessarily the case for communities that are not a part of this framework.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  The only thing I could add is that the denial of basic human rights is an everyday thing in aboriginal communities. To me, it's really unfair to take this example and try to interpret that, or interpret our positions, as a possible denial of human rights in our communities. I have to repeat what I said earlier: the right to education is very limited, as is the right to adequate housing, to health, and to others.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  It seems to me that the list you presented has just about everything, the basic requirements, to adequately consult our communities. As I was listening to you, I was reminded of a protocol that we developed in Quebec, with great difficulty, trying to present to both levels of government, saying this is the guide for us.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  It's fairly simple as far as I'm concerned. Respecting and enhancing collective rights may be a way of dealing with individual rights. However, no one will disagree with the need to strike a balance which, otherwise, would probably not exist. We need to spend the time to reflect on the impact the Charter will have, once it is adopted under Bill C-44, on communities that may not have the means to enforce its provisions.